Heavy Lifting

Heavy Lifting

I went to the grocery store this morning.  I have never liked grocery stores.  I have trauma around food which complicates my shopping experience.  But this morning as I walked down the aisles, I quickly noticed more activity than usual.  The employees were tearing...
I Am Not Shocked

I Am Not Shocked

I usually don’t write about current events.  I do that on purpose.  I want to keep the focus on recovery.  Too much focus on current events can be triggering.  Triggers can be helpful in recovery by giving us access to our emotions, but they can also shut us down if...
A Messy World

A Messy World

Protecting my children has been one of my most important goals over the past 11 years.  I have made it clear to my family and all other abusers that my children are not available to them.  I have eliminated all contact with abusers in our lives.  This required me to...
The Trauma of Charlottesville

The Trauma of Charlottesville

Anxiety has been my lifelong companion.  While it has been debilitating at times, my recovery work has helped me so much.  I don’t have the same responses to life that I did in my younger years.  I don’t get paralyzed in the same way.  I can breathe through oncoming...
50 Shades of Abuse

50 Shades of Abuse

When I was a child, I was taught that sex was about power. More importantly, I was taught that sex was about a power differential. My needs, wants and concerns were of no interest to my abuser. And “no” was never an acceptable response to my abuser’s desires. I...