Child Abuse and Mental Health Survivors Information - Issue #99
The Dog Days of Summer
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.
There are a couple of links below about heat and mental health. Where I live in the US it’s been abnormally hot. It’s always hot in the middle of Summer, but it’s been even warmer this year. As in, too hot to be outside for very long due to not just the heat, but also the poor air quality that comes along with it. Our air is humid all the time, hot, humid air is not always compatible with clear breathing.
This creates sort of an odd version of SAD (Seasonal Affectation Disorder), because it’s rough to get outside. It’s hard to find the motivation to go for a walk, or do much of anything else outdoors. That leaves us inside, away from the benefits of sunlight and nature, even as the sun is plentiful right out the window.
It’s always something when it comes to trying to take care of our mental health, isn’t it?
It’s still important to find a way to practice some form of self-care. As we know, that might look very different for you than it does for me, than it would for anyone else.
No matter what it is, find a way. How do you deal when the weather prevents you from getting outside?
New from the Blogs
Sharing - Being calm is not our default mode
I've seen many mentions recently about anxiety being a normal response to our current world. This is also a contradiction to what much of the self-help and positivity industry would tell us. Spend any time on social media and you'll see plenty of messages about gratitude, finding joy and purpose, and the silver lining in any situation.
What you won't hear is that there are situations that SHOULD make you angry, anxious, and sad. But there are.
Sharing - Peer-on-Peer Abuse: What can be done when kids hurt kids?
I should know. I was sexually abused by an older minor. There was no creepy old man, only an older and bigger kid who threatened me. Someone in my own family. Mall parking lots, school, and our neighborhood park weren't the places where I was not safe, my family was.
Asking for Help is a Skill You Should Learn
What I am starting to learn, and Gary writes as well, is that asking for help isn't a sign of weakness but it might very well be an opportunity. It's an opportunity to connect with other human beings at a personal level, it's an opportunity to learn from the expertise of others, and an opportunity for them to put that knowledge to good use. It's an opportunity to use that combined skill to create a better solution than I would have created by myself.
Shared from Elsewhere
Let’s talk about the weather because the heat has been in the news for awhile now:
We tell men to reach out, but Nick Libertucci doesn’t think we actually give them a chance to - I Feel Like We Can’t Talk
Coming out of the Depressive State - Sarah generously shares what helped her get out of a rut. The exact details may not work for everyone, but there are some things to consider, like finding an activity that brings you some joy.
Similarly, Erin has this to share:
Finally a couple of posts on how we can help some folks in communities that are sadly subject to mental health issues due to discrimination - How Allies Can Help the Disability Community's Mental Health and How parents can support their LGBTQ+ children's wellbeing and mental health
From the Archives
John Oliver Takes a Look at Mental Health Care in the US
I wanted to share this with you because John Oliver makes some important points about how we have made so many strides in acceptance and encouraging people that it is OK to ask for help, and then the system doesn’t provide it.
It’s Hard to Have Hope Right Now
We need each other now, as always. We need our community. We need our connections. We need to know that we are not alone in this.
None of us survived a traumatic event just so we could spend the rest of our lives defined by that event.
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.