Revue newsletter for Child Abuse Survivor - Issue #18
Happy Friday! Would you do me a favor? If you see something interesting in this newsletter, pass it on to someone. Knowledge is better when it's shared. Thanks and have a great weekend!
New From the Blog
Sharing - Mental Health Reminders for the New Year — www.childabusesurvivor.net Janet offers 10 suggestions that fit this description: “I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions. I can barely plan my day, let alone the whole year. And I’m also not big on making commitments I know I can’t or won’t keep. Instead, I remind myself of certain behaviors I think I (maybe) can accomplish and...
Sharing - Is Mental Health Stigma Decreasing? It’s Complicated — www.childabusesurvivor.net We can, and should, do everything we can to get out good information and share the truth about mental health issues. We can, and should, share our own stories of the mental health issues we've survived, especially those of us who have had many of these issues due to the trauma we suffered. But that will never be enough for some people. Knowing the truth about these issues, and knowing what people need in terms of non-stigmatizing support won't be enough to change their actual behavior. The very topic(s) will make them uncomfortable and they will act out of that discomfort instead of relying on what they know. They will put their own comfort above any consideration of how stigmatizing their actions and words are because they simply cannot handle even the slightest discomfort in their lives. That is their weakness, not ours.
Sharing - Five tips on setting boundaries for your mental health — www.childabusesurvivor.net The other thing to keep in mind is that no one else is going to set the boundaries for you that you need. They will set the boundaries that they want for you. That includes family, friends, and employers. They won't know the limits of your mental health, and they may not even care about them. Some will, but you still need to draw them yourself and then communicate them. And, maybe. most of all, allow everyone to set their boundaries and respect them. Maybe we could all get some improved mental health if we all understood that a little bit better.
Shared From Elsewhere
Interview: Abuse and Neglect at Private “Troubled Teen” Centers — www.madinamerica.com
How Trauma Reactions Can Hi-Jack Your Life | What Is Codependency? — whatiscodependency.com When we've been primed by trauma, we overreact to perceived “threats” that may not be unsafe. This damages relationships and our ability to respond effectively.
Stigma leads men to hide the signs of mental health challenges – The Oakland Press — www.theoaklandpress.com While mental health issues like depression and anxiety affect both men and women, studies have shown men are less likely to seek help or receive treatment.
We can't ignore the role mental health plays in conspiracy theory beliefs — mashable.com
From the Archives
What Does it Mean to Hold Space For Someone? — www.childabusesurvivor.net For me, I've always viewed holding space in terms of that word, safe. When I hold space for someone I'm not solving their problem, or questioning them. I'm simply letting them be. Whatever that might look like at that moment, and I'm making sure that they are safe. It means making sure that being in my presence, either in person or virtually, is a place where they are free to cry, vent, question, or whatever form of expression is needed to help at that moment. It means being the person who is simply there, listening, offering support, but above all else, keeping them safe, physically, emotionally, mentally, etc. I also recognize how difficult that really is to do. Many of us weren't raised to "hold space", but to fix things. We see someone crying and our instinct is to fix, to do something to get them to stop crying, instead of simply giving them space to cry. Or we want to run out and correct instead of simply allowing people the space to tell their story safe from the worry of the person hearing it will overreact. This is so hard for us, we want to correct injustice, to fight for the people we care about, but sometimes by doing so, we eliminate their safe space to simply tell their story and stop listening to what they want from us. That is the opposite of holding space. How do you hold space for others, and for yourself?
Sharing - RUOK? A step based guide on how to ask, how to answer, and how to act! — www.childabusesurvivor.net This is an Australian-based resource, but in honor of the upcoming RUOK day for my Aussie friends, I wanted to share it. In addition, the tips they give for how to ask if someone is OK, and how to respond, are useful to anyone, everywhere.
Sharing - What Is the Best Way to Deliver a Thank-You? — www.childabusesurvivor.net I'd rephrase their language a bit. Instead of waiting for the "best" time to say thank you in the best way, it's far more important to just say it however you can. I would much rather get a quick text expressing gratitude than potentially not get anything because so much time has passed. I don't think I'm alone in that. So worry less about "how", and just make sure that you actually say thank you!