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Narcissists and Relationships

Mourning the Loss of Motherhood

On Mother’s Day, we celebrate the lives of the women who came before us and we grieve the loss of mothers that were taken from us too soon. But, for some of us, we also grieve the mothers we never were and the children we will never see again. 

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Tell Me You Are A Bad Person Without Telling Me

How do you know if that person that you are inviting into your life is good or bad for you? Can you trust your gut, or are red flags oblivious to you? And what about boundaries? This journal entry from our blogger, Amanda, talks about these very questions and more.

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A Soundtrack for Survivors

Music can move us as survivors. Rick Dougherty shares his ultimate playlist of songs that have helped him with his past abuse and how they will also help him when walking across Ireland in June to raise money and awareness for BTSADV.

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The Autism Spectrum and Abuse

“By trying to raise awareness of the Autism spectrum, especially how it relates to abuse, I am hoping to help others avoid the decades of confusion I experienced when trying to come to terms with the abuse I suffered.”

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Chris was US…

There have been many opinions about the Chris Rock/Will Smith Oscar moment, but for survivors of domestic violence, we may see ourselves in Chris Rock in that very moment.

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Chasing Confidence

Amanda endured years of gaslighting, and her journal entry reflects the effects that happen after, including doubting her self-confidence.

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Survivor but still surviving…

So when we say we are survivors, we are implying that we have conquered every strike, every shove, every bruise, every antagonistic word, every silent night of just tears, and the US transforming into the hero that saved us!

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The Autism Spectrum and Abuse

By trying to raise awareness of the Autism spectrum, especially how it relates to abuse, I am hoping to help others avoid the decades of confusion I experienced when trying to come to terms with the abuse I suffered.

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Sabotaged: How Abuse Can Trigger Body Image Issues and Eating Disorders

Abuse often violates our bodies and free will. What happens when trauma responses cause us not only to disassociate to cope but also use food or a lack of it it to bring comfort or a sense of control back to our lives? What happens when self-hatred causes abuse to continue from within? It’s time to love the person staring back in the mirror.

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Preventing Teen Dating Violence

This is where some parents can tend to miss the clear signs of teen-dating violence, under no fault of their own.  They are looking for the stranger who tries to groom, and infiltrate the safe-space created for the child.  What is often the more pressing concern is the people we invite into the safe-spaces.

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To be the teen…

“Who would believe them in that aspect of empathy enough to provide the comfort they needed after facing such detrimental levels of trust?”

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Purple Alerts: Can They Help Victims?

The Purple Alert may or may not be the right answer, but the fact remains that society is not doing enough to protect victims. Too often, with the lack of support from the police, families are forced to work on their own to find their missing loved ones.

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Sarah Emma Edmonds: Civil War Hero

In an effort to hide from her abuser, she started calling herself Emma Edmonds, and began working in a shop that made women’s hats.  Emma succeeded in this endeavor, and was co-owner of the establishment quickly.  Her story then took a turn that is familiar to so many survivors of abuse.  She escaped; found personal success; and then her abuser caught up with her.

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10 Years Later: The Joe Paterno Saga

As a survivor, we normally assume that most people think like us.  Maybe they have not experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse, but you assume that they still find these things as abhorrent as you find them.  It was disheartening to hear these people bend over backwards to defend a cover-up of sexual assault towards children.

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A Guide to Becoming a Thankful Survivor 

I have spent years of my life in turmoil, confusion, hypervigilance, exhaustion, and many other negative emotional states, but when I look back over time and through my healing process, I am grateful for numerous aspects of my journey.

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The Forgotten: How the Gabby Petito Case Highlighted Many Unresolved Missing Persons Cases

According to the FBI (2021), in the year 2020, there were 543,018 missing person records entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). By the end of the year, there was still a staggering 89,637 unsolved cases. Although white people tend to report the most missing people, not too far behind are black people, and yet, many are never seen in the media. Another shocking fact is that The University of Wyoming stated in the area where Gabby’s body was found, 710 Indigenous people were reported missing between the years 2011 and 2020 (Robertson, 2021). As much as Gabby was worth searching for, the question that many are asking is why aren’t these lives considered just as important as hers? 

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If someone needed anything Staci would always be there to help them.

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One Day at a Time 21 Years Later; My Survivor Story

This person used me as a punching bag for a hobby. What made things worse was that I had no help from family members or the authorities! The police laughed at me and when it came time for court visits, my ex would threaten me to not enter the court room.

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My Survivor Story

Whenever I got upset with the things he was saying and the things he was doing to me, he would call me crazy. I believed him.

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I am a Survivor

“…he then comes grabs me hands me an ice pack and cuddles me and says “Well if you wouldn’t have gotten mad and started yelling, or acting crazy I wouldn’t have to set you straight”

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A Survivor’s Story

“If you are stuck in an abusive or toxic relationship – please do believe me, the grass really is greener on this side. I know you are scared to leave but right now is this the life you really want to live?”

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Brutal Love

I decide this is my moment I lunge toward him to grab the gun. I get a firm hold with both hands and being twisting and pulling. I rip it free. I run for the front door and throw it into the deep snow.

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A Survivor Story

It’s been like a horror movie and I’m the only witness. Everyone thinks I’m crazy. I’ve lost everything and anyone I ever loved or cared about. I’m all alone. I was in the hospital for a month. I voluntarily admitted myself into the psychiatric ward because the pain has been terrifying me.

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When It’s A Cop…

“Hon, you’re not going to like what I have to say, and I don’t like having to say it. You can go to Internal Affairs and report that piece of s***. But he is a sergeant, and you are a rookie still on probation and a woman. Your word against his and you will probably be fired.

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