Advocacy

This is where the personal becomes political.
I write about trauma-informed care, chronic illness, medical gaslighting, and the systems that fail the most vulnerable—because I’ve lived through them.
These posts are part rally cry, part research, part refusal to stay silent.
If you’ve ever felt dismissed, unseen, or unsafe in the places meant to help you—this space is for you.

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.

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.

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…

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.

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.

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.