by Elisabeth | May 21, 2015 | Defenders, Freedom Fighters
The Battle for Control During my recovery work, I have gone through several phases of perception about control. When I was a kid, it was obvious that I was not in charge. It was very clear. I wanted to be autonomous more than anything in the world. Even as a kid, I...
by Elisabeth | Apr 7, 2015 | Defenders, Dissociation, Freedom Fighters, Memory Repression
As a survivor in the anti-trafficking movement, I am often treated as though I am only necessary for my story. This is not news. Most of my survivor friends can tell you about being re-exploited by those in the movement who are trying to make things right. But of...
by Elisabeth | Feb 12, 2015 | Defenders, Dissociation, Freedom Fighters
I recently read the first two Harry Potter books to my eight-year-old twins. They were astounded by them. My children’s entire lives shifted forever when Harry saw Quirrell standing in front of the mirror at the end of the first book. I knew it would be surprising to...
by Elisabeth | Jan 22, 2015 | Freedom Fighters
My family members were masters at squashing rebellion. It is what any good (or bad) dictator learns how to do before all else. It only takes one person to rise up against you, one bad link in the chain, and the empire can fall. Personally, I could not imagine...
by Elisabeth | Oct 31, 2014 | Defenders, Freedom Fighters, Inner Children, Parenting
So, the holidays are here. You may be thinking this is a little early, but I include Halloween in my definition of the holidays. I call it the holiday trifecta. And they come every year. And every year, I brace myself. I actually attempt to store up energy, but of...
by Elisabeth | Oct 10, 2014 | Defenders, Freedom Fighters, Inner Children, Parenting
I have worked hard to maintain my mask of normalcy over the years. I was trained by my family that there could be no external signs of abuse, physically or behaviorally. And since I was convinced the abuse was my fault, I thought it imperative to comply. When I felt...
