Child Abuse and Mental Health Survivors Information - Issue #89
Mental Health Days
Thank you for reading the Child Abuse and Mental Health Survivors newsletter. Each week I share new blog posts and other resources that aim to help survivors of childhood abuse and those who are struggling with mental health issues feel less alone as we discuss the issues surrounding our issues. If you’ve tried to follow the resources I share on social media and find that the algorithm has decided for you to not show you the things we post, this is the best way to get caught up each week.
For more information about me and why this newsletter exists visit the website - Child Abuse Survivor.
As many of you know, I’m an advocate for taking care of your mental health first instead of letting your job ruin it. I write about it because it’s important to understand the mental health impacts work can have in our culture, whether you’re an employee or an employer.
Since being laid off though, I’m realizing that it’s not just the job that we need to consider. Not having a job is stressful as well. I’d assume that for many of us it is even more stressful because of the uncertainty it brings. Much like that stressful job there is always something to do. Networking, filling out applications, writing cover letters, dealing with Unemployment Insurance and health insurance coverage, looking for new job leads and researching options for working for myself, etc.
It never ends, and just like that stressful job, you need a break. So I took one this week, and spent the day in nature. It helped and the rest of it was still here when I got back to it the next day.
Just like work.
How will you take a break for your mental health? If you’re struggling to think about how to do that, might I suggest this newsletter post?
New From the Blogs
Who knows, maybe in the current system there really was no hope for Jordan and many like him. That's hardly a reason to celebrate his death and the person who killed him. It should be a wake-up call about how poor our current system is and a push for systemic change. Unfortunately, that's a serious discussion that too many people in politics are not interested in having.
Sharing - Why It's Okay to Not Be Okay: Tips for Telling Someone You're Struggling
I cannot emphasize enough how difficult it is to talk about our struggles. We should never take that lightly. We should also never take lightly how much trust and vulnerability it takes for someone to choose us as the person they want to talk to about their mental health.
Don't take that for granted and please do not take that with anything less than the utmost seriousness. Dismissing someone who is talking about their mental health is a great way to make sure they don't talk to anyone ever again.
Don't be the person who causes that.
Sharing - The concerning rise of the "Trauma Essay"
Being forced to write about it takes the story away from these kids. The trauma is no longer their story to tell, or not tell. It's outside of their control when they are simply expected to write about their trauma as part of the college application process. That's not the same as doing it as part of your healing. It might even be dangerous.
Shared From Elsewhere
"The American Psychological Association has put out a thoughtful, nuanced study, about kids and social media, that suggests that the hyperventilating we’ve heard about is misplaced"
It’s complicated, which means there are no easy answers. But you should talk to your kids about it - Teens say social media is stressing them out. Here's how to help them
How to Cope with being Touch Starved - "Whether we accept it or not, humans need physical touch or skin-to-skin contact to maintain good health and well-being."
Healing from Trauma takes Work - Yes it does.
More resources to consider:
From the Archives
Thoughts on Mother’s and Father’s Days
Yes, many of us do not have the types of parents who fit within the qualities of good mothers and fathers that we celebrate on these days, but I bet most of us know people in our own lives who bring those qualities to our relationship with them. They may not be our parents, but the presence of those qualities of character around us, deserve to be celebrated.
2020 Brought us More People Talking about Mental Health, not Necessarily More Treatment
As I’ve said myself many times, thousands of new therapists are not coming through the door in the next few months, and they certainly aren’t coming into some of the rural areas that have almost no resources at all. So what do we do? How do we develop new tools, new ideas, and new ways of helping when so many are in need of help? There’s no one easy answer, but if we aren’t asking the tough questions, and working on finding the solutions, we will not have learned any lessons from this past year, and that would be a shame.
Sharing – What It’s Really Like To Be A Male Victim Of Rape
Men need to hear these stories too. We need to know that various issues stem from being sexually violated that are similar to non-male victims and yet not the same.
Most of all, we need to understand how common male rape is and that we are not alone in being victims.
Thanks for reading. If you find this newsletter informative and helpful to you, spread the word. That’s the best way you can say thank you for the effort I put in each week.
Many thanks for sharing my article How To Rest. I hope it is helpful to you and your community. 🧠 ♥️