Blog Carnival "Recovery From Sexual Abuse"

The Blog Carnival "Recovery From Sexual Abuse" comes out in the first week of every month. We usually have a specific theme under which we invite contributions from our readers. These contributions can be your own posts from your blog or posts you have found on the web that you found helpful and/or useful for understanding sexual abuse and the recovery from sexual abuse.

The aim is to increase the awareness about the struggle and the hurt that is caused by sexual abuse. You can submit your post by following this link

Carnival June 2009: Self Harm

Welcome to the June 2009 edition of recovery from childhood sexual abuse. This edition was dedicated to exploring Self-Harm. Some of the contributions are directly about self-harm, others are about coping skills to help people not to harm themselves. As always, a special THANK YOU to all readers for their contributions. I trust you will have an interesting read and I am looking forward reading your feedback if you have any!

Listening to your inner child posted at Rabbit Write, saying: Consciously being gentle with yourself is essential in negating some of that harsh backlash that often happens after self work or achievement. One of the most effective methods I have learned to help foster a sense of empathy and delicacy towards the self is to carry and cradle a beloved stuffed animal. That action of holding something softly in your arms creates a sense of nurturing, caring and compassion that then easily transfers to yourself.

Suicidal Feelings posted at Befrienders Worldwide, saying We are born with the ability to take our own lives. Each year a million people make that choice. Even in societies where suicide is illegal or taboo, people still kill themselves. For many people who feel suicidal, there seems to be no other way out. Death describes their world at that moment and the strength of their suicidal feelings should not be under-estimated - they are real and powerful and immediate. There are no magic cures.

Self-harm (Self-Injury) posted at Befrienders Worldwide, saying People harm themselves in many ways, including cutting or burning, pulling out hair, hitting their bodies against something, drinking heavily or taking excessive amounts of drugs which can lead to an overdose.

There are many reasons why people self harm and the meaning for each person is unique but it is very often a way of dealing with very difficult thoughts and feelings and is often kept secret.

Self-harm and your relationships posted at TheSite.Org, saying Self-harm can be difficult for friends, family and even professionals to accept. TheSite.org looks at how relationships with people in your life might be affected and gives you suggestions for dealing with it.

Sexual Assault Awareness posted at Let's Talk about Race. saying When my intern first suggested I write a post in April about this being Sexual Abuse Awareness Month, I thought, “Yeah, I can do that.” I started the research and found information and statistics. But nothing was clicking in my head to write about. Then I started thinking about my own childhood and victimization.

Trapped Within my Body posted at Survivor's Revolution, saying I have never felt like my body was mine. For the majority of my life it really wasn't. It was just something I put up with while other people did as they pleased. Its no surprise that when things really got out of control, I started cutting myself.

Letters to My Therapist (2007/2008) posted at Secret Shadows, saying, "This is a series of posts consisting of emails sent to my therapist during my recovery from sexual abuse. The posts are listed in chronological order and cover many topics that present themselves during the course of therapy."

Letters to My Therapist (2009) « Secret Shadows posted at Secret Shadows, saying, "This post contains several entries consisting of email correspondences to my therapist during my treatment from sexual abuse. These are NOT posted in chronological order. These are posted in reverse. To read in chronological order, scroll to read the last one first. The posts reflect a variety of topics relevant to recovery from sexual abuse."

Art Therapy posted at Secret Shadows, saying, "Art Therapy has been very helpful to me during my recovery from sexual abuse. Art was my voice when I couldn't find it. This link will take you to all my posts listed under the category "Art Therapy"."

Bloom Where You're Planted posted at Secret Shadows. saying t is not what happens to us that maps out our life. It’s not the cards we’re dealt. Instead, it’s what we do with that that creates our life. It’s how we choose to play those cards that matters most. What happens to us, happens to us. What we choose to do with that, makes us who we are.

25 Ways to Avoid Self-Injury and Prevent Self-Harm « Discussing Dissociation posted at Discussing Dissociation, saying, "Thanks heaps for including my first submission to your April blog carnival -- I appreciate that! I am including an article for the Self-Harm category. This list of helpful ideas was compiled as a combined effort from a group of survivors who struggle with self-harm. I encourage survivors to try as many things from the list as they need to, one after another, until they can reach a place of safety. Thanks again, Kathy Broady (aka Kathy_B_from_AC on twitter)"

25 More Ways to Avoid Self-Injury and Prevent Self-Harm « Discussing Dissociation posted at Discussing Dissociation, saying, "Hi, it's Kathy Broady again. This is the second article also related to self-harm. It is actually a continuation of the first article I just submitted to you. I don't know if you will / can accept two articles, but they were both created from the same group of survivors who struggled with self-harm. There are no repeats of ideas. Each list of 25 is unique to the other. Thanks for your consideration of these articles, Kathy (aka Kathy_B_from_AC on twitter)"

100+ Ways to Spring Clean Your Mind and Body posted at Surgical Technician Schools. saying meditation is a mental discipline in which the individual uses simple mental exercises to enter a deeper state of relaxation or awareness. Anyone looking to cleanse their mind would do well to follow one or more of the meditation practices listed below.

That concludes this edition. The next edition is dedicated to exploring SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE BODY. Submit your blog article to the next edition of recovery from childhood sexual abuse using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Carnival April 2009: Coping with Crisis

Welcome to the April 2009 edition of recovery from childhood sexual abuse. This edition was dedicated to exploring how survivors of sexual abuse cope with crisis. After I did a google blog search and a technorati search myself, I was surprised how little 'hands on' information is available about crisis management. As always, a special THANK YOU to all readers for their contributions. I trust you will have an interesting read and I am looking forward reading your feedback if you have any!

Survivors Going To The Hospital posted at Multiple Voices. saying 'I have been asked by a few readers to comment on how to increase safety for these moments when you have to go to hospital. I will share some of my thoughts and experiences in a moment. However, I believe that there are so many capable survivors out there. I would love to hear from you all what you do to make a hospital visit safe for you and your system.'

Crisis in DID Treatment posted at Multiple Voices. saying 'Loneliness and the sense of isolation is a pervasive theme DID clients struggle with during all stages of recovery. When reaching out for therapy it refers to feeling alone, being scared of people, and being surrounded by a lack of understanding. Other people may even be perceived as toxic and dangerous.'

Kellevision: The Body Remembers posted at Kellevision, saying, "The body remembers abuse it experienced even when the mind suppresses it."

Raising A Highly Sensitive Child posted at Concerning Kids, although this post is not exactly about the impact of sexual abuse, it's included here because these handy parenting tips my be very useful for survivors of abuse as well. "Shy, sensitive children are usually very afraid of taking risks and trying out new things. Give them encouragement and slowly nudge them into making choices for themselves, always assuring them of your support. Similarly, if you need to punish them, a highly public yelling is only making matters worse with them. Try quieter, gentler ways of pointing out their mistakes".

50 Treatment Issues for Dissociative Identity Disorder « Discussing Dissociation posted at Discussing Dissociation, saying, "Thank you for including my blog article that relates to the recovery issues for those that were severely abused in childhood." The reader might find the list of 'Issues' a bit overwhelming, but be assured, often working on one issue might cover another issue at the same time.

Rape and Sexual Abuse Survivors - Dancing In The Darkness posted at Dancing in the darkness. saying Many survivors of sexual abuse have flashbacks. These flashbacks are a reliving of the original abuse. This can happen visually in images one remembers of the abuse, or they can happen without any visual image. The abuse can be re-experienced with sounds, smells, feelings, or other such bodily memories.

What to do if you are raped | Pandora's Project posted at Pandora's Project. saying saying "Get to a safe place. The first and most important thing for you to do is to get away from the perpetrator and to a safe place. Whether this is to your home, a friend's home, a police station or a hospital, make sure you are not in any danger anymore. This can be very difficult if you are living with your perpetrator, such as a spouse or a relative (in which case, you might want to tell someone you trust and develop a safety plan before you leave the situation)." check out the other tips as well!

15 tips for victims on how to deal with sexual assault, abuse and harassment in the West posted at SoundVision.com. saying 'Victims of sexual assault, abuse and harassment often prefer to keep their victimization hidden, fearing blame. But if you are a victim, this is a danger to yourself and to others too, who may become the next victims of the sexual harasser and/or abuser. Here are some things you can do to break the wall of silence and start the healing:' read on ..

I'm a sexual abuse survivor: how do I get okay being intimate again? | Scarleteen posted at Scarleteen. saying 'I'm 15 years old and was sexually abused for two years in the past. How do I get over my intimacy issues? The last boyfriend I had, anytime we were physically intimate, my chest would get really tight, I'd often start to shake, and I'd go into this blank zone where I'd just stare at the ceiling and my body would be completely unresponsive. It was really scary. '

Crisis Intervention posted at Woman Abuse Prevention. saing 'a person in crisis, at that particular time, is unable to rely on her familiar coping mechanisms and is faced with an acute sense of disequilibrium and disorientation. Experiencing strong and conflicting emotions, tensions and anxiety, she may enter a stage where her thinking becomes illogical, confused and fragmented. '

Coping Strategies posted at Members Tripod. saying 'Many survivors find it difficult to cope during flashbacks, or times of great stress. It can help to be able to "ground" yourself (knowing where you are, who you are, when it is, and that you're safe right now). Listed below is a compilation of coping strategies from members of the SADM list that many survivors have found useful in helping to ground themselves, feel safer, calm down, and be able to deal with survivor issues, as well as every day events.'

” What To Do When You Are Triggered" by Finding Your Marbles - A Mental Health Survival Guide posted at Finding Your Marbles. saying For me, one of the toughest things about recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety has been learning how to manage triggers. If you’ve got PTSD or you have panic attacks, you know what I mean by triggers; those little things that, once your “anxiety brain” gets hold of them, send you into a downward spiral of fear, panic, and sometimes, even depression.'

That concludes this edition. Has this inspired you to write about the topic of CRISIS management? I hope so. The next edition of the blog carnival is due in the first week on June. The topic for that edition will be 'SELF HARM'. I know, its a really difficult topic for survivors. However, I hope you'll be able to share you blog posts or those you have found useful with the readers of this carnival. Please, submit your blog article to the next edition of recovery from childhood sexual abuse using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: recovery from childhood sexual abuse, blog carnival.

Carnival September 2008: General

Welcome to the September 30, 2008 edition of recovery from childhood sexual abuse. I am excited about the support this project has received and about the great submissions people have made.

Attachment and the Therapeutic Relationship posted at Secret Shadows, saying, "This article was written by myself as a survivor with DID. Professionally speaking, I also have a Masters Degree in Special Education: Emotional/Behavioral Disorders."

Dreaming in DID©: Using DID to accept your self-worth « Emily First Girl: ………….DID ……….Multiplicity posted at Emily First Girl: .............DID ..........Multiplicity, saying, "After a lifetime of confusing but incredibly vivid and detailed dreams, I learned that the characters in my dreams were all different parts of me. Understanding how these parts of myself (alters) helped and hindered me in dreams gave me incredible insight into how these parts contribute to me in my real life. When I lose contact with my selves, my dreams help me reconnect and understand."

The Force that Drives You to Speak posted at Healing Yourself Heals the World, saying, "Healing Yourself Heals the World is a brand new site that will serve as a personal account of the healing journey from child abuse and childhood sexual assault. There is a force within survivors that pushes them to speak and not only will this site be a personal account of the healing journey, but hopefully it will also serve as a place of encouragement and motivation to other survivors and aid in their own healing journey. Thank you."

It's Complicated.......... posted at My Clouds, My Storms and Multiple Personality DisorderI found this post showed clearly the difficulty Mulitples have with relationships. Here an excerpt: Or maybe I should say that I'm complicated. Being a multiple with my feelings walled off into little compartments can make life a bit confusing for me sometimes. However, I'm guessing it's not nearly as confusing for me as it is for the people who live with me.
Abusers Deny or Minimize the Abuse posted at SANCTUARY FOR THE ABUSEDExerpt: Not all abusers are dysfunctional. Many of them are pillars of society. Abusers come in all shapes and sizes: successful professionals, or peripatetic con-artists, affluent or poor, young or old, well-educated or dropouts. There is no profile of the "typical abuser".
How sex predators groom - posted at Imaginif Child Protection became Serious BusinessExerpt: Grooming is a process of desensitisation that sex predators use on children to prepare and trick them into accommodating sexual abuse. Grooming can take months, or days, and can occur on the internet, over the phone or in...
Multiple Voices: Finding the Right Therapist - posted at Multiple VoicesExcerpt: How do you know that you have found the right therapist or counsellor? Wouldn’t it be ideal to have a check-list that you can tick off when you set out to find a therapist? Sadly, it doesn’t work like this.
Good Fairy Helps Incest Survivors Forget Til It's Safe by Incest Survivor - posted at Wedding Pranks. Excerpt: Finally, from the corners where the silence still remains, there came the urgency to go to a mountaintop and scream out the whole truth.
QuantumShift.tv - Holly's fight for Justice video posted at Holly Fightforjustice DeSimone.Check out Holly's video about her fight for justice. Find out about Holly and her journey from overcoming rape and fighting relentlessly to get her perpetrator behind bars! Not to be missed! Gudrun
Dr. Jerry Mungadze, Mungadze Trauma Programs - posted at Yvie Stewart. Dissociative Identity Disorder: Triumph over Life's Greates Challenge. EFor a young child, life is viewed in simplistic terms. A loving family, a safe environment, food and shelter, playing with friends, and .
Courage in Patience - posted at Courage in Patience by Author Beth Fehlbaum. Excerpt: Ashley Nicole Asher’s life changes forever on the night her mother, Cheryl, meets Charlie Baker. Within a year of her mother’s marriage to Charlie, typical eight-year-old Ashley’s life becomes a nightmare of sexual abuse and
Read about the new book "Beyond Tears" posted at Lynn Tolson. Surviving domestic violence and sexual abuse, Lynn Tolson tells her story in the book, Beyond the Tears, in hopes to help other victims understand they can live a normal, happy, life.
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of recovery from childhood sexual abuse using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: recovery from childhood sexual abuse, blog carnival.