Tag: survival
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Where Do You Go When Your Body Becomes a Cage?
The author shares their journey of living with Addison’s disease, reflecting on feelings of grief, loneliness, and loss of identity. Despite being diagnosed after years of struggle and misunderstanding, they express resilience through writing. They acknowledge the isolation brought on by illness and emphasize that they are not alone in this experience.
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What If This Is All There Is?
The content explores deep existential questions about life’s struggles and the search for peace. It conveys feelings of despair, questioning the reality of fairy tales and the concept of safety. The author expresses a longing for healing and joy while battling persistent pain and silence, highlighting a seemingly never-ending fight for fulfillment.
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When You Feel Like Too Much (And Still Not Enough)
Childhood trauma often leads individuals to feel “too much” or “not enough,” driving them to please others while neglecting their own needs. This survival mechanism creates disconnection and loss of self. Healing involves accepting one’s true self, recognizing the impact of past trauma, and fostering genuine relationships without the need for performance.
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When Safety Returns, So Might I
The author reflects on the connection between illness and unexpressed emotions. They articulate that survival differs from true living and healing cannot occur in turmoil. The hope is for a future where safety allows for gradual healing, transforming feelings of dread into peace and restoring a sense of self and wellness.
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After the Name, Comes the Grief
The author reflects on the deep grief that follows medical validation. After years of struggle, the diagnosis feels paradoxical, bringing relief alongside sorrow for lost time, relationships, and self-identity. This complex emotional journey showcases the coexistence of gratitude for answers and the mourning of everything endured while seeking care.
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Why I Write
The author reflects on their journey from fantasy writing to capturing the realities of pain and survival through words. Inspired by personal trauma and the need for connection, writing becomes a tool for healing and reclaiming identity. They aim to resonate with those feeling unseen, ultimately forging community through shared experiences.
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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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Finding Healing After Family Turmoil: A Journey to Self-Recovery
It’s a strange thing, being on the “other side” of survival (other side in quotes because honestly, I am still mostly surviving, not quite thriving) Life often gives you a brief moment of quiet, only to hand you the daunting task of healing. Recently, I received a comment from a reader that resonated deeply with…
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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…
Jessica Woodville | Memoir & Musings 