Child Abuse and Mental Health Survivors Information - Issue #75
It's that time of year.
We are ten days out from Mardi Gras, so it’s king cake, parades, and fun times in Louisiana. It’s an excellent time to remind ourselves of the mental health benefits of simply having fun:
Sharing - Here's why you should make a habit of having more fun
I hope you have some fun planned. Amid all this other stuff, we need it.
New From the Blogs
How we show up for other people matters. We can provide that place of safety in which they can heal and flourish. Too often, we don't, though.
Reviews Elsewhere - 9 Of The Best Books For Social Skills Improving your life
I wanted to share this list by Charlie Mills not because it is necessarily focused on mental health or child abuse but because social skills are something that many of us living through childhood trauma didn't get to learn as kids.
Sharing – What Is Secondary Trauma?
“Supporting people through their traumatic situations can be a trauma of its own, called secondary trauma. It’s especially common among helping professionals.”
It can show up in a lot of other places too, as I share from my own recent experience.
Shared From Elsewhere
Stay in touch: Just one conversation with a friend each day boosts well-being - Connection matters. We see this time and time again.
Speaking of things we see confirmed over and over -
How Feeling Unloved as a Child Can Lead to Adult Depression
New research shows adults who recall many instances of feeling unwanted or unloved during childhood have higher odds of lifetime depression.
Changing The Mental Health Stigma: “Seeking Emotional Support Is Not Weakness, It Is Intelligence” - It’s one of the smartest things you can do for yourself.
Surviving a Suicide Attempt Brings Mixed Feelings for Many
So, how can we help support survivors of suicide and lessen the likelihood of another attempt? Taffe tells us that the best action to take is quite simple: listen and be present.
How the Modern World Makes Us Mentally Ill
The modern world is wonderful in many ways (dentistry is good, cars are reliable, we can so easily keep in touch from Mexico with our grandmother in Scotland) – but it’s also powerfully and tragically geared to causing a high background level of anxiety and widespread low-level depression.
Do you agree, is the downside to all of what we have now the higher risk of mental health issues?
From the Archives
Link – Predatory Portals: Need and Trust
Landru demonstrates this method: Figure out what the target group most desires and become that person. Dissolve their hesitations by using “trust cues” like confidence, helpfulness, reassurance, and an ordinary demeanor. Keep affirming that you offer what they want—you’re perfect for them—and that it’s safe to advance further. Use several steps that gradually engage them, each one proving your sincerity until they commit. Predators know how to work on low self-esteem, loneliness, alienation, a need for love, and even on narcissism (“You are the kind of person who deserves only the best.”).
Yes, Landru was a serial killer.
How Will Others React to Your Change?
Whether we are talking about family members who don’t want you to heal and tell your story for their own selfish reasons, or to “protect family secrets”, or friends who have gotten used to the person you are currently, and don’t want anything to be different, or others who simply can’t understand what you are trying to do, not everyone is going to be thrilled as you go through a change to help you live a healthy life.
Until next week my friends!