Category: Survival and Healing
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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.
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Healing or Snake Oil? A Survivor’s Take on the Trauma Recovery Industry
I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted by the way trauma recovery is being packaged, marketed, and sold like the latest wellness trend. Healing isn’t a product. It’s not a five-step program or a color-coordinated workbook. And yet, every time I scroll through social media, I see another ad promising to “fix” trauma—just $99.99…
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PTSD and the Echoes of the Past: A Survivor’s Reflection
TW: This post discusses sexual assault, PTSD, and trauma anniversaries. If these topics are triggering for you, please take care while reading or consider skipping this post. You are not alone—if you need support, please reach out to someone you trust or check the resources at the end of this post. It has been almost…
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The Three Stages of Trauma Recovery—And What They Look Like in Real Life
(Because Healing Isn’t Linear, No Matter What the Self-Help Books Say) When I first heard about the three stages of trauma recovery, I thought it was bullshit. Not because the concept didn’t make sense—it did—but because I was convinced I’d never make it past stage one. For those who aren’t familiar, trauma experts like Dr.…
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Healing Out Loud: Why Telling Our Stories Matters
“Healing out loud because I almost died in silence.” Breaking the Silence: The Power of Sharing Our Stories For years, I believed my story was something to be hidden—too heavy, too messy, too much for the world to handle. I convinced myself that silence was safer. That if I didn’t speak about my experiences, they…
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Daring to Dream Again: Finding Hope After Trauma
For a long time, I didn’t let myself dream. Survival was the only goal. Dreaming still feels dangerous—like setting myself up for disappointment or failure. When you’ve spent years just trying to make it through the day, the idea of planning for a future, of imagining a life beyond the next crisis, feels foreign. Maybe…
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Why Rest Is Revolutionary for Trauma Survivors
“Pay mind to your own life, your own health, and wholeness. A bleeding heart is of no help to anyone if it bleeds to death.” Frederick Buechner About a week before publishing my memoir, my body reminded me who was really in charge. A health flare-up hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me alone…
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Trying to Heal When You Can’t Afford to Break
Healing from trauma is a challenging journey, often hindered by financial, emotional, and environmental barriers. Survivors face high costs for therapy and alternative treatments, lacking adequate support systems. The process can feel disheartening as they navigate exploitation and limited options. Ultimately, healing should be accessible to all, not a privilege.
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Braving the Unknown: My Path to Living Fully
My memoir ends on a hopeful note, but also a realistic one—life is still hard. My physical health continues to be a challenge, but for the first time in a long time, my mental health is stronger (in some ways) than it has ever been. Not because I’ve disconnected from my past but because I…
Jessica Woodville | Memoir & Musings 