The stigma associated with mental illness may be one of the leading reasons why people avoid seeking the support of close family and friends, and even the help of mental health professionals. Stigma perpetuates fear which leads to avoidance, unfair judgment, and isolation. This takes us further and further away from the things we reallyRead More
Healing From Harm
Self-Harm Revisited: The Golden Rules of Helping a Loved One
Discovering that a loved one has purposely harmed themselves in one form or another may stir up a wide range of emotions: fear and worry, confusion, frustration, anger, and even blame. A person may find a million questions running across their mind. But possibly the most important question is “how do I help?” No twoRead More
7 Ways to Identify and Heal From Self-Harm
If you or a loved one has ever had a history of self-harm, you understand how painful, distressing, and confusing it is to cope with self-injury. Often the person inflicting harm feels hopeless about stopping the behavior. Loved ones feel helpless in assisting the person they love in overcoming self-injury. But there is hope—there isRead More
A Future Free and Clear
Last week we talked about leaving behind the unhelpful past. You know, all those painful memories and experiences that hold you back. And while forgiveness is the first step in this process, you must also develop these two things. Mindfulness and the ability to engage in Advantageous Reflection. What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness–the act of beingRead More
Leaving the Unhelpful Past Behind
There are few things that are certain in life. The past is one of the few things we can reflect upon without the fear of uncertainty. It has already happened, and cannot be changed. It is no wonder people cling to it even when it has a negative effect on our mental well-being. We wouldRead More
Is Healing Possible?
By now you all have probably seen the infamous Ray Rice elevator tape (If you haven’t a simple Google search will get you there). What occurs in that 30 seconds of footage is concerning for a lot of reasons. There is the obvious issue of domestic violence and even talk about what is wrong or right. OneRead More
The Invisible Wound–PTSD and the Men and Women of the Armed Forces
Somewhere there’s a man who can’t sleep at night without medication—his night terrors won’t allow it. In another house, there’s a woman who is scared to hug her children, she’s afraid she may harm them. Let’s not forget the wife who is terrified in her home; when her husband has flashbacks he gets violent. Post-TraumaticRead More
I Was Raped–A Story of Pain, Forgiveness, and Healing
When I was 15 years old, I was raped. My attacker wasn’t some stranger who abducted me. He wasn’t someone I feared. My attacker was my boyfriend. The first time he raped me, I felt damaged and confused. I was unsure about how I should feel, and I didn’t know where to turn. This wasRead More
Six Truths about Sexual Assault You Need to Know
Every 2 minutes someone in America is sexually assaulted. A staggering 80% of those sexual assault victims are under the age of 30, and 44% are under 18. 60% of sexual assaults are never reported to the police. 97% of rapist never spend a day in jail.* April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). InRead More