Tag: Domestic Violence
Posted on January 28, 2023
by Janna
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Proof. My son’s cap and gown for high school graduation came in this week. In May he’ll don the duo, walk alongside his classmates and best friends, and together — with his older sister, now a sophomore in college — we’ll mark one of… Continue Reading “The Proof (and Magic) of Milestones”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse survivors, cap and gown, domestic abuse, Domestic Violence, emotional abuse, family court, gaslighting, graduation, growth, healing, manipulation, milestones, narcissistic abuse, post-separation abuse, Spencer Reid, starting over after abuse, success, survivor
Posted on December 8, 2022
by Janna
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I have a habit of wishing those who upset me a hearty “F*ck you” in my head. And while I will always insist that anger has a healthy place in our healing, that we should both respect and allow it, I can also acknowledge… Continue Reading “Think Like a Monk (and hurl fewer FU’s)”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Books & Resources, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse survivors, anger, domestic abuse, Domestic Violence, Harriet Lerner, healing, Jay Shetty, peace, purpose, starting over after abuse, survivor, The Dance of Anger, Think Like a Monk, unresolved anger
Posted on November 14, 2022
by Janna
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Take the selfie. Save the selfie. Share the selfie. Serious and silly. You don’t have to listen to the noise about how our world is “selfie-obsessed” and “self-absorbed.” If you’ve spent any time at all questioning your appearance, hating your body, or harboring low… Continue Reading “It’s Time to Get Comfortable with Yourself”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: body dysmorphia, degradation, domestic abuse, Domestic Violence, emotional abuse, gaslighting, healing, low self-esteem, manipulation, self-love, starting over after abuse, survivor
Posted on October 21, 2022
by Janna
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Perspective. It’s important. A friend shared with me the other day that by seeing what someone else was going through in their home, she considered for herself, “Maybe it’s not so bad for me.” I agree with her. When we have tunnel vision our… Continue Reading “Why Perspective May Not Do You Any Favors”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse survivors, domestic abuse, Domestic Violence, DVAM2022, emotional abuse, excuses, gaslighting, healing, justification, manipulation, minimization, narcissistic abuse, starting over after abuse, survivor
Posted on September 5, 2022
by Janna
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“Such narrow, domineering rules feel a lot like the way domestic abuse feels.” This essay has been knocking around my noggin for months. Today I blew the dust off my Medium account and hit “publish.” I hope you’ll take a chance to check it… Continue Reading “How Public Housing Perpetuates a Pattern of Control”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse survivors, domestic abuse, Domestic Violence, emotional abuse, essays, financial abuse, healing, low-income housing, manipulation, Medium, personal essays, post-separation abuse, public housing, starting over after abuse, survivor
Posted on July 28, 2022
by Janna
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I know it’s hard to ask for help, especially once you’ve internalized you need to leave and it’s time to make a plan. Here’s how I help women (in America) find resources that are local to them. Save this in case you ever need… Continue Reading “How to Get Help and Leave Abuse”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Books & Resources, Living Your Own Life, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse survivors, coalitions, community centers, domestic abuse, Domestic Violence, DV shelters, emotional abuse, healing, help, leaving abuse, Legal Aid, manipulation, ministerial alliance, resources, safe exit, safe plan, starting over after abuse, survivor, women's shelters, YMCA
Posted on July 11, 2022
by Janna
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Need a reminder today? I’ve got it for you. It’s okay if all you make for dinner is mac & cheese or Ramen. You’re busy trying to heal. It’s okay if the laundry has piled up. You’re busy trying to heal. It’s okay if… Continue Reading “It’s All Okay”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse survivors, domestic abuse, Domestic Violence, emotional abuse, gaslighting, healing, manipulation, narcissistic abuse, starting over after abuse, survivor
Posted on June 19, 2022
by Janna
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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 May 17, 2022
by Janna
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My sweet dad took his last breath on this day twelve years ago. I was in the room when it happened. In fact, I was the one who realized he wasn’t breathing anymore. Hospice warns you, you know. They’ve gotten really good at estimating… Continue Reading “Death: Why My Life Started Over”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse survivors, catalyst, death, death of a loved one, domestic abuse, Domestic Violence, emotional abuse, gaslighting, grief, healing, manipulation, narcissistic abuse, reflection, starting over after abuse, survivor, waking up
Posted on May 7, 2022
by Janna
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Okay, so your abuser had a traumatic childhood. Something life-changing, perhaps horrifying, happened to them. The stuff nightmares are made of. It was out of their control. Or maybe they were, for example, raised by a detached, materialistic father and callous, dismissive mother, so… Continue Reading “Your Abuser’s Trauma is No Excuse”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse survivors, childhood trauma, control, coping techniques, domestic abuse, Domestic Violence, emotional abuse, gaslighting, healing, manipulation, narcissistic abuse, starting over after abuse, survivor, therapy, trauma