Child Abuse Survivor - Issue #195
Human written, human curated, free, and ad-free. Why I need your help
If you’re new here, or even if you’ve been reading for years, I want to ask you a favor.
This newsletter, which was born out of the website that started 25 years ago this Autumn, has always been free. The website has always been ad-free, and all of the work I’ve put in over the years has been voluntary.
I’ve never wanted to get paid for writing and sharing important information. Knowing that somewhere, a survivor or someone dealing with mental health issues had one place where they could know they are not alone was all I ever wanted in return.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to start asking for money.
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 them.
For more information about me and why this newsletter exists, visit the website, Child Abuse Survivor.
Because I make no money from any of this work- in fact, I spend money to keep up the website at my own expense- the budget for spreading the word through online advertising or sponsorships is $0.00.
That means the only way people hear about it is from you. When you share the newsletter, the website, or even an individual post with your own circles of friends, online audiences, family members, or even one person you think it might help, you are the marketing team. You’re helping this little newsletter reach people that I have no way to reach.
Do you know someone who needs to know they aren’t alone right now? Share this with them. Remind them that there are others out here who’ve been abused and survived, been at the lowest depths of depression and came through it, and that he’s also sharing stories from plenty of others who’ve done the same.
Thank you for being my street team.
New from the Blogs
Sharing - Why We Remain Silent
That’s sometimes the price we pay for speaking out. It’s not an easy price to pay, but let’s not kid ourselves that it doesn’t exist.
It exists, and as long as it does, there will remain thousands upon thousands of people out there who never talk about their abuse, but still need some of us out here talking so they know they are not alone.
Resilience comes from the confidence that, even if things go horribly wrong, you'll still be here, moving on. What I think young people are missing today is examples of that. One, because we don't like to talk about the 100 times we struggled with something before figuring it out, but also because we live in a society that mocks people who try and fail at anything. When we go online, how often do we see the perfect finished product rather than the failures someone lived through to get there? And, even if someone shows the failures, how often is the comments section filled with mockery?
When I struggled with ideation, it was the overwhelming feeling that I'd never get through it and no one would care that drove it. This process seems like the kind of thing that would have gotten me to a better place much quicker. I eventually found what helped and the people who knew what to do, but it was a struggle. Having a trained professional guide me through creating that plan while I was in the hospital for an illness would have jump-started that process.
Worth Reading - Corporate America spends billions on mental health services. 97% never use it.
The combination of the stigma of calling in the first place, along with a program that doesn’t meet the needs, means 97% of people won’t bother with it. We should be looking at alternatives, for sure.
Shared from Elsewhere
You might want to keep this handy - How to check in with teens about mental health: A template for parents
Related, for those of you with adult children: What Supporting an Adult Child with Mental Illness Looks Like
Even more research on a topic we’ve covered many times:
Loneliness Directly Causes Poor Mental Health
Sometimes, but how can you tell the good sources from the bad ones? Can You Trust the Mental Health Advice You’re Reading?
This is a solid point - You Don’t Have to Be Falling Apart to Start Therapy
Making a Difference:
Packers QB Jordan Love partners with new holistic mental health practice opening Friday
A Child’s Light Announces Receipt of $6,500 Grant to Expedite Youth Mental Health Care
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.