Category: Personal Essay
Posted on June 22, 2022
by Janna
Leave a Comment
I’m no wiz in the kitchen but I’ve been working for years on this recipe that I’d like to share. It takes time to make, fair warning, and it can get super messy. Also, while the specific ingredients I’ve listed are important and necessary—I… Continue Reading “Recipe for Happiness”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: boundaries, DV awareness, education, empowerment, healing, independence, self-love, self-worth, solitude, strength, survivor, triggers
Posted on June 19, 2022
by Janna
Leave a Comment
Guess what, you? YOU are capable of change and growth and healing. YOU are capable of an authentic life driven by deep joy, satisfaction, and stability. Your abuser is NOT. (A supporting text that will help you understand why is Lundy Bancroft’s book, Why… Continue Reading “A Survivor’s Superpower”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Books & Resources, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Personality Disorders (abusive), Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse survivors, authentic happiness, domestic abuse, Domestic Violence, emotional abuse, gaslighting, healing, joy, Lundy Bancroft, manipulation, narcissistic abuse, responsibility, stability, starting over after abuse, superpower, survivor
Posted on June 15, 2022
by Janna
Leave a Comment
THEM: “You’ve changed.” YOU: “I had to. Can’t you see?” Not everyone’s going to understand or support the transformation that’s required of your hurting and healing journey. Change anyway. Some will think that when you finally start expressing your opinion, you’re being argumentative. Be… Continue Reading “Change Anyway, Survivor”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: boundaries, healing, independence, life after abuse, starting over, survivor, transformation
Posted on June 12, 2022
by Janna
Leave a Comment
Solitude is hard to handle when you’re used to chaos. Being alone is difficult when you’ve been conditioned to codependency. Sitting quietly with only one’s thoughts can be torture when those thoughts are dominated by triggers at every turn, and memories of the abuse.… Continue Reading “Survivor, Give Solitude a Chance”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse survivors, chaos, codependence, conditioning, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, gaslighting, healing, independence, manipulation, narcissistic abuse, peace, solitude, starting over after abuse, survivor
Posted on June 8, 2022
by Janna
Leave a Comment
My best friend collects heart-shaped rocks. I’m not sure you would believe the sheer amount and variety her devotion has rendered. It’s impressive, and makes one want to start their own collection. She gave me this one. Can you guess why by the visual?… Continue Reading “Tattered Hearts and Their Repairers”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: after abuse, broken, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, healing, hurting, intimate partner violence, narcissistic abuse, psychological abuse, save ourselves, surviving, survivor, trauma
Posted on June 7, 2022
by Janna
Leave a Comment
I gave this pep talk to my kid this morning, and it just occurred to me that you might need to hear it, too. (I’ve tweaked it some, since you’re probably not an almost-17yo dude. But I watched as enlightenment crossed his face, and… Continue Reading ““Am I Being Annoying? Do They Hate Me?” | No, It’s a Trauma Response”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: anxiety, brainswashing, coercion, conditioning, control, education, emotional abuse, empowerment, fear, gaslighting, healing, mental abuse, psychological abuse, survivor, trauma, trauma responses
Posted on June 4, 2022
by Janna
Leave a Comment
Many pieces of our American society — especially through the arm of Western religion — make you think that forgiveness (releasing another from the harm they’ve done you) is required for your peace and well-being. My hot take is that forgiveness toward the one… Continue Reading “Let’s Talk About Forgiveness”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: boundaries, domestic abuse, DV, education, emotional abuse, empowerment, forgiveness, healing, let it go, manipulation, narcissistic abuse, red flags, starting over, survivor
Posted on June 3, 2022
by Janna
Leave a Comment
As the house lights faded, my nose burned with emotion. It’s rare that I don’t feel more than one emotion at once. That day, last Saturday, it was gratitude, awe, pride, all together. My kids, both older teens, and I had settled into our… Continue Reading “Vacation My Way”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: break, empowerment, family, getaway, post-abuse, survivor, travel, vacation
Posted on May 24, 2022
by Janna
Leave a Comment
I see many women taking pleasure in bashing Amber Heard and praising Johnny Depp without understanding there is an emotional + psychological tactic in domestic and intimate partner abuse that is literally called “crazy making,” wherein the abuser convinces the victim and select outsiders,… Continue Reading “Why I’m More Likely to Believe Amber”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Personality Disorders (abusive), Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse, Amber Heard, attack, court, crazy making, emotional abuse, gaslighting, Johnny Depp, psychological abuse, trial, triggers, women
Posted on May 24, 2022
by Janna
Leave a Comment
It’s okay if you don’t know what you’re doing. What’s not okay is anyone in your support system making you feel bad about it. It’s okay if others want to help you. What’s not okay is for them to take control the way your… Continue Reading “What’s Not Okay”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse survivors, after abuse, boundaries, emotional abuse, healing, starting over, support, survival, surviving