Healing from anything traumatic can be a long process. For me my healing journey is never ending. I work daily to find the joy in everything. Healing is such a personal experience and often looks very different for different people. I have gone to therapy and attended support groups, I have used exercise and writing, crocheting and singing as some of my avenues to making myself well and whole again.
I have done this work over the course of 30 years and I think I will always be on this path to self discovery. There are many aspects of my life that are still a challenge for me. I worry way too much about my weight and aging, I am my own worst critic and I don’t give myself nearly enough credit for the work I have done in advocacy and policy. I most certainly don’t give myself enough credit for how I raise my children or for writing a book. My life is not perfect by any means, but beyond healing is happiness.
We will be discussing the link between trauma and advocacy on Ep. 21 of “Shining Light on Shadows: A Candid Conversation About Mental Health” Thursday, January 9 at 6pm CT / 7pm ET. Neil Parekh is my co-host. Carole Peters will be our guest. You can watch the live show or the recording on Facebook, Twitter*, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram* or Neil's website.
*We won't know the exact urls for Twitter and Instagram until we go live. These links go to Neil's Twitter and my Instagram.
Trigger Warning
When I was 21, I was violently raped. By that time I had built up all these resilience skills, which I believe helped me heal from the trauma I endured. By the time I was 25, I knew that the way out for me was to help advocate for other people who had experienced trauma. I knew that speaking out loud and often was a way to make a difference in other people's lives, which was very important to me.
I have listened to many stories from many individuals about what they have endured in their lives. Some of those stories are so horrendous or sad that I can experience such painful empathy, but it drives me to continue working. I have learned to stand up for myself and others as a way to connect with the world and try to make a difference. Even the book I wrote was intended to inspire hope in others who have experienced violence in their lives.
I think it is important to stand up for what you believe in. I think if you can help someone navigate a difficult situation or find resources for someone in need you absolutely should. Feeling alone and being lonely are two very scary things and having even one person who shows that they care can make a difference in someone’s life is important.
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