Tag: csa

  • Can Mental Health Advice on Social Media be Trusted?

    Can Mental Health Advice on Social Media be Trusted?

    There is an abundance of mental health advice on social media. But, not all of it is safe or helpful. For survivors, messaging that oversimplifies healing or focuses only on “positivity” can reinforce shame and the idea that struggling means you’re doing something wrong.

    How to Think Critically About Mental Health Advice on Social Media

    Before taking advice to heart, ask:

    • Who is giving this advice?
    • Are they trained or licensed in mental health?
    • Does this feel helpful or does it leave you feeling judged?

    Peer support matters. But expert guidance matters too. And not everyone sharing mental health advice on social media has the background to do it safely.

    Bottom line:
    You’re allowed to feel your feelings. Healing isn’t about being positive all the time. It’s about being real and supported by voices that understand trauma, not shame it.

    For more on this topic, check out this video:

    Read all blogs here

    Returning to Wholeness

    Returning to Wholeness Journal Course

    A journey for survivors of childhood trauma of learning to trust and embody the TRUTH of who you’ve always been.

    Learn more
    Courageous Connections

    Connecting Within

    Guided meditations to help heal mind, body & soul.

    Learn more
    Journey to Wholeness

    Sacred Boundaries

    A journey of honoring heart, mind, body & soul. Boundaries are hard. This course will help you recognize what you need and how to move through the obstacles keeping you from implementing it.

    Learn more

  • Can You Really Heal Shame? Understanding the Process of Releasing It After Trauma

    Can You Really Heal Shame? Understanding the Process of Releasing It After Trauma

    Can you really heal shame?

    If you’ve lived with trauma, you’ve probably asked yourself that. Healing can feel slow, and shame often sticks around longer than we’d like. But yes, you can heal shame. And when you understand how that process works, it becomes more possible to believe in it.

    What does it mean to heal shame after trauma?

    Many people assume healing shame means learning to tolerate it or cope better. But healing isn’t about enduring. It’s about releasing. When you begin to heal shame, you’re letting go of beliefs that never belonged to you. You’re shedding layers not fixing yourself.

    Think of it like a snake shedding its skin. You’re still you, but free of the parts that kept you stuck in shame.

    Healing shame is a layered process but it works.

    It doesn’t happen all at once. Sometimes, you work on one area and suddenly notice old shame in another part of your life. That’s not a setback it’s part of how healing unfolds. The more awareness you bring, the more deeply you heal.

    You don’t have to carry shame forever.

    There may be regret, embarrassment, or guilt. But shame? That can go. It doesn’t define you, and it isn’t something you were meant to live with. When you heal shame, you make space for your wholeness to shine.

    For more on this topic, check out this video:

    Read all blogs here

    Returning to Wholeness

    Returning to Wholeness Journal Course

    A journey for survivors of childhood trauma of learning to trust and embody the TRUTH of who you’ve always been.

    Learn more
    Courageous Connections

    Connecting Within

    Guided meditations to help heal mind, body & soul.

    Learn more
    Journey to Wholeness

    Sacred Boundaries

    A journey of honoring heart, mind, body & soul. Boundaries are hard. This course will help you recognize what you need and how to move through the obstacles keeping you from implementing it.

    Learn more

  • The Lasting Impact of Sexual Abuse

    The Lasting Impact of Sexual Abuse

    The Impact of Sexual Abuse Goes Deeper Than Most People Realize

    The effects of trauma aren’t just about what happened, they’re about what it made you believe about who you are. The impact of sexual abuse often begins with the painful question survivors try to answer: Why did this happen to me? And without real answers, many blame themselves.

    That internal story (“I’m bad,” “It’s my fault,” or “I’m unlovable”) becomes more damaging than the event itself. It shapes your identity, relationships, and ability to feel safe in the world.

    Understanding the Impact of Sexual Abuse on Self-Worth

    Survivors often carry beliefs formed in silence and shame. Even without remembering the details, the emotional impact lingers. You may:

    • Struggle to name what you want or need.
    • Stay in unhealthy relationships.
    • Avoid closeness, assuming others will hurt you.
    • Numb out or self-sabotage.

    These are not personality flaws, they’re survival responses. And naming them is the first step toward healing.

    You Can Learn to See Yourself Differently

    The impact of sexual abuse does not define who you are. Those beliefs were never yours to carry. They were shaped by what someone else did. Healing isn’t about forgetting; it’s about reclaiming your sense of self and choosing to believe you deserve more.

    Let’s talk about this. What part of the impact has been hardest to put into words? You’re not alone and we all need support as we work to heal the wounds of childhood trauma.

    For more on this topic, check out this video:

    Read all blogs here

    Returning to Wholeness

    Returning to Wholeness Journal Course

    A journey for survivors of childhood trauma of learning to trust and embody the TRUTH of who you’ve always been.

    Learn more
    Courageous Connections

    Connecting Within

    Guided meditations to help heal mind, body & soul.

    Learn more
    Journey to Wholeness

    Sacred Boundaries

    A journey of honoring heart, mind, body & soul. Boundaries are hard. This course will help you recognize what you need and how to move through the obstacles keeping you from implementing it.

    Learn more

  • Is Anger Normal When Healing from Trauma?

    Is Anger Normal When Healing from Trauma?

    Is anger when healing from trauma something to worry about?
    Not at all. Anger is a natural response especially after experiences that involve pain, injustice, or fear. Many trauma survivors struggle with what to do when anger shows up. But feeling it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It means you’re human.

    Why Anger Shows Up in Trauma Recovery

    Anger when healing from trauma is often misunderstood. It’s not always about rage. Sometimes it surfaces as irritation, resentment, or the quiet thought, “This isn’t fair.” Anger can be a signal pointing to deeper feelings like hurt or fear that haven’t been fully processed yet.

    Do You Need Anger to Heal from Trauma?

    No, not everyone will feel intense anger and that’s okay. What matters most is what you do if it’s present. When anger is acknowledged, validated, and expressed safely, it can help release shame and restore a sense of power. But if it’s repressed, it may build and come out sideways hurting you or others.

    Final Thoughts

    You don’t need to feel anger to heal but if it shows up, it can be a valuable part of the process. Anger when healing from trauma isn’t bad. It’s a message. And with the right support, it can even lead to powerful growth.

    For more on this topic, check out this video:

    Read all blogs here

    Returning to Wholeness

    Returning to Wholeness Journal Course

    A journey for survivors of childhood trauma of learning to trust and embody the TRUTH of who you’ve always been.

    Learn more
    Courageous Connections

    Connecting Within

    Guided meditations to help heal mind, body & soul.

    Learn more
    Journey to Wholeness

    Sacred Boundaries

    A journey of honoring heart, mind, body & soul. Boundaries are hard. This course will help you recognize what you need and how to move through the obstacles keeping you from implementing it.

    Learn more