Category: Advocacy
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Bruises You Can’t See: Bullying, ACEs, and the Long Shadow into Adulthood
Bullying leaves more than hurt feelings—it can cause lifelong emotional and physical harm. In this personal and research-backed post, I share my story, explore the link between bullying and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and call for change in how we address peer abuse.
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Silencing Survivors Won’t Save a Broken System
The NY Post’s latest op-ed dismisses abuse survivors of the troubled teen industry. Here’s why that’s not just wrong—it’s harmful and dangerously misleading.
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What Nearly Killed Me Wasn’t the Illness—It Was the System
The author reflects on their five-year struggle with chronic illness and inadequate medical care. Despite multiple specialists and difficult experiences, they emphasize the ongoing battle against the medical system, marked by negligence and lack of accountability. They seek compassionate, trauma-informed care and highlight the necessity for medical integrity and respect for patients’ suffering.
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Anxious Is the New Hysterical
Jessica Woodville reflects on the historical context of women’s emotions, equating past “hysteria” with today’s labeling of anxiety. She argues that these diagnoses often dismiss deeper issues, particularly when trauma is involved. Women are urged to be believed and listened to, advocating for acknowledgment beyond superficial labels of anxiety.
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I’m Not Failing at Healing: What It Really Takes to Rewire a Trauma-Wired Body
They say healing takes time.But no one talks about what else it takes. It takes energy you don’t have. Support you no longer do. Money that doesn’t exist.It takes silence when you live with chaos, rest when you’re a mother, and trust when your body is still waiting for the next blow. And when talk…
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We’re Not Broken – The System Is
“Healing isn’t just about surviving the past—it’s about building the future. And I refuse to let my past be the thing that steals my future away.” I am a trauma survivor, a mother, and an advocate. And like so many others carrying the weight of early adversity, I have spent years trying to heal in…
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This Is What It Cost Me: Five Years, One Body, and a System That Still Won’t Listen
I’ve written about this before—maybe two, three times now. Chronic illness. Storms. Parenting through it. The trauma it leaves behind. But the truth is, every time I write, I hold a piece back. Because reliving it costs energy I barely have. Because writing about being dismissed starts to feel like shouting into a void. But…
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Too Sick to Be Ignored, Too Complicated to Be Helped
After years of mysterious symptoms, trauma-informed insight, and medical dismissal — including at one of the most prestigious hospitals in the country — I’m left wondering if there’s a place for people like me in modern medicine. This is what it’s like to be chronically ill, gaslit, and out of strength.
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Cendie Stanford’s TED Talk on ACEs: A Wake-Up Call We Can’t Ignore
Cendie Stanford’s TED Talk on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) powerfully highlights the lasting impact of childhood trauma on adulthood. She emphasizes the prevalence of ACEs, the necessity for awareness, and the importance of trauma-informed care. Healing is possible through community support and understanding, advocating for change in how we discuss and address trauma.
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30 Seconds of Courage
Jessica Woodville’s memoir, “Smoking in Garages: A Survivor’s Story of Trauma and Resilience,” explores the power of sharing one’s truth to combat trauma. She emphasizes how small acts of courage can lead to healing and urges others to confront their pain, highlighting the need for systemic change to support childhood trauma survivors.
Jessica Woodville | Memoir & Musings 