Why do I blog? Well, the short answer is because it is part of what I need to do to heal from childhood trauma. Telling is healing.
There is also a need to use my voice. Not sure how, but I got the message in my life that what I have to say is not important. It could have stemmed from the abuse itself, or a combination of things. Regardless, the only place where I felt listened to was at the religious meetings I attended.
Now that I have developed some self-worth and gotten rid of a lot of unwarranted shame, it is easier for me to be in a group and speak up. However, it is still not super easy for me – not like water running off a duck’s back. It takes conscious effort for an introvert like me to behave as an extrovert from time to time.
Some of the childhood trauma impacted the way I can regulate my emotions and how I think on my feet. Writing my thoughts and feelings down makes it better for me to process things and figure things out as the words are being released through my fingers. I am able to edit, backspace and rethink my words.
Many abuse survivors feel voiceless and powerless. By choosing to put my feelings, thoughts, and experiences onto paper, hopefully, this can be an avenue for those who haven’t found their voice yet.
Validation is necessary for trauma recovery. Writing of my experiences and about what I’ve learned in my own healing journey provides needed validation – for me and hopefully, the readers.
Not everything I share is a personal experience. Sometimes it’s about what I’ve learned and researched. Sharing what has been learned is important to me. Sharing is caring. 😊
There may be vernacular that is not understood by the reader. If this is the case with you, please feel free to look the word up to ensure it is understood in the proper context. Some words mean different things to different people. If in doubt, please ask. 😊
My blogs are my opinions and if any of them cause a reaction inside of you, I suggest getting curious and asking yourself why. Triggers are a good thing. They reveal what needs more work. There is no shame-throwing intended. That is not my thing. If there is some shame that has arisen or anger or embarrassment, then please dig deep and find out where this is coming from inside you. Old habits die hard so it takes concerted effort to figure oneself out, process feelings, detox from them and then let them go. Healing takes courage.
I love what Winston Churchill said: It takes courage to stand up and speak. It takes courage to sit down and listen. And if we’re self aware – we know this is truth.