Child Abuse and Mental Health Survivors Information - Issue #115
The short week version
With the four day holiday weekend coming up for those of us in the US, I’m taking Thursday and Friday off from this space too, and sending a shortened version before the holiday.
In terms of marking the holiday, I want to share something here that I wrote many years ago on the blog about being thankful.
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.
For more information about me and why this newsletter exists visit the website - Child Abuse Survivor.
Originally written Thanksgiving Day 2008
It’s the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US. My day was pretty full, volunteering and serving food early in the day, and then having dinner with my family later. It was a long day, all that time being social and around people has me pretty tired, but I wanted to post a quick thought about being thankful.
Sometimes for survivors, finding something to be thankful for at this time of year is a struggle. Many times we’re simply trying to survive family time without too much stress, or struggling with depression more than usual. I know, I’ve spent many years viewing Thanksgiving messages of gratefulness with my own particular brand of cynicism.
That’s not so much the case now, but it was for a very long time. It takes time, and there’s nothing that can change that. On the other hand, if you can’t find anything else to be thankful for today, be thankful that you are alive, and that you have time, and the hope, that in the years to come, you will continue healing, continue growing, and build a life that includes plenty to be thankful for.
I am thankful that each of you reading this has the chance to live, and become the person you want to be, healthy, and happy. Continue to work, and have hope.
Also, as someone who is going to be spending some time in a few weeks at holiday social gatherings, I’m dropping this here for anyone else this applies to - How To Deal With Social Anxiety During Thanksgiving, From An Expert
How are you going to be taking care of yourself during this holiday? Share your best advice.
New from the Blogs
Mental Health Knows No Group Identity, but Our Stressors are Not All The Same
In short, we can't keep telling people to eat better and get exercise when the world is actively hurting them and the people they care about. We need to find multiple options for different individuals in different situations.
And, we need to work toward being a world that prioritizes not actively hurting each other, but I fear too many people aren't capable of that.
Even Friends Who Are Bad Influences are Better than Not Having Friends
Connection matters more than small behaviors. Loneliness is more damaging to our mental and physical health than small vices, despite the amount of digital space spent talking about what we should and shouldn't eat, drink, or do with our time. Yet, so many of us make our friendships one of the lowest priorities.
Shared from Elsewhere
Speaking of the importance of connecting - The case for inviting everyone to everything -
In a time when loneliness is more pervasive than ever, why not extend an invitation?
We need more of this kind of understanding - Capturing the lived experience of depression
We lost a mental health advocate this week - Rosalynn Carter's Advocacy for Mental Health Was Rooted in Compassion and Perseverance
From the Archives
What If I Told You Most Abuse Survivors Are Not Who We Think They Are?
I see this study as a call to action. There are things we can do when we find out about sexual abuse that can help people heal. Are we willing to do what is necessary, as friends, as family, as health care practitioners, as a society?
No, the easiest way to break up those circles, as any kid who threw rocks into the water can tell you, is to throw another rock and create new concentric circles starting from a different location.
Gee, in my metaphor about the trauma I wonder what those other rocks could be? Mental health treatment? Care and support from family and friends? The elimination of stigma attached to trauma?
How about instead of ignoring the circles we started throwing some more useful rocks and disrupting the cycles of trauma that we see repeated over and over again in those circles?
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.