Child Abuse Survivor - Issue #190
Self-care at work - is it possible?
I’m going to be leading a discussion about stress and anxiety with the San Diego Paralegal Association on Zoom later today, so I’ve been thinking a lot about managing stress when things are changing all around you at a fast pace.
I’ve also been reading new posts on the topic like these:
Workplace Mental Health - Why Self-Care at Work Isn’t Optional—It’s Essential
The World Is On Fire (Literally), and Your Employees Are Feeling It
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.
As I considered what I want people to take away, though, the one post that resonated with me was this one:
The Forgotten Art Of Doing Something Just For You (No Productivity Required)
The post is good, but frankly, just the headline made me stop in my virtual tracks. How often do we do anything just because we like it, and not for any other reason? We’ve created a culture where many would consider that a waste of time, but why? Why do we all work so hard if not to do the things we enjoy? What’s the point of this life if not to find some kind of joy in it?
I also know that some workplaces make it difficult to do this. The always-on culture of many employers makes it nearly impossible to enjoy yourself outside of work in a meaningful way. The 12-hour days you put in exhaust you to the point where there is no energy to enjoy anything outside of work, and the family and caregiver responsibilities eat up every non-working hour. This seems to be the culture we’re building around work and family, especially without the community support we need to still have fun. It’s time to create a different world.
Are you doing anything just because you enjoy it this weekend? I’m planning a little photo exploration next weekend, over the long Memorial Day weekend in the US, because it’s been too long since I took the camera out by myself just to take pics. My wife and I spent last weekend seeing two Dave Matthews Band shows, just because they were fun.
Those are my mental health breaks amid what has been a very busy, stressful, and exhausting few months. What are you doing for yours?
New from the Blogs
Sharing - We Say It Takes a Village — Here’s How You Build One
What more can I say about this? There are clear connections between improved outcomes for kids who are surrounded by supportive adults, and then we created a society that makes it nearly impossible to create that kind of community. The article talks about small acts of cooperation and inclusion, building the network of trusted adults, but how many of us would even know where to start? How many of us don’t trust anyone? How many of us have friends or non-immediate family members around who our kids can trust?
Related - It Takes a Village to Abuse a Child—and to Prevent It
Worth Reading - Most workers told Monster their job harms their mental health
If you look at the contributors to the mental health damage, though, you see things that are avoidable if organizations wanted to avoid them. Fix poor management, address understaffing, pay people what they're worth, and don't lay off workers just to tweak the stock price. Unfortunately, in the current political and economic climate, I don't see enough organizations that want to do any of that.
Sharing - The broken pipeline of mental healthcare for LGBTQ teenagers
We talk a lot as a society about youth mental health, but our actions speak much louder, and the message they send is that we only really care about the mental health care of certain kids. Because if we cared about the mental health of all kids, we'd make different choices about making healthcare available and eliminating the actions that harm teens' mental health.
Reviews Elsewhere - Welcome to ‘Anxietyland’ theme park, where the rides are no fun
Reading this review made me think this may be an interesting book to pick up. Sometimes, the darkest subjects can be addressed most honestly with a little humor.
Shared from Elsewhere
If you want better relationships and a possible solution for loneliness, maybe pay attention to other people - The Power Of Being Seen: Why Noticing The Small Details Strengthens Our Deepest Bonds
Related - Kevin Love’s story shows why teammates and close friends can be life-saving.
Also related:
Reading recommendations for trauma survivors - The Best Books to Help You Recover Now.
This is a little late, but if it was rough for you, Thoughts for Survivors on Mother’s Day
I know this can be a struggle - How to Find the Right Therapist
Things are not getting better - New Poll Reveals Growing Concern About Mental Health.
Making a Difference:
Black student groups are building the mental health support they can’t always find elsewhere
How Rangers Radio Broadcaster Eric Nadel Turned His Birthday Into a Mental Health Fundraiser
Mental Health Recovery Softball Tournament hosted by Rise As Lions
Fort Wayne woman driven by personal journey to help others struggling with mental health
Veterans advocate highlights importance of compassion in mental health struggles
Thanks for reading. If you find this newsletter informative and helpful, please share it with others. That’s the best way to express gratitude for my weekly efforts.