When it comes to my life, I know that I have so much to learn still. One of the things that I was recently asked by a friend was why am I so angry all the time? I think that question really made me step back and start to re examine my life. It just really struck close to home when I was asked that. I guess for a long time I didn't want to admit that I had been abused or that I had endured so much pain in my life. Because my father would never allow me to express emotions or feelings, I pushed...
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When we think of role models and heroes, we often think of those who are out there in the spotlight, making a difference. Sometimes we name those leaders throughout the centuries who have paved the way for us and left their footprints on society. Regardless, we seem to always take note and pay the most attention to people who have made a name for themselves and are doing great things in life. However, there are many heroes who never get recognized for the work that they do and who work behind...
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The key chain that I have says one word, BELIEVE. I bought it awhile back to symbolize a new era in my life. For me, this simple key chain with the word BELIEVE holds so much meaning to me. When I look at it, I am reminded of all the trials I have endured in my past to make it this far in the present. It also serves to remind me of the future I have ahead of me and to keep holding on even when tough challenges come my way.

One of the things that I struggled with for the longest time was my sel...
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On numerous occasions, one of the questions that I have been asked is how I began healing and what I steps I took to start speaking out and sharing my story with other survivors and victims out there. Honestly there were a few major steps I had to take when making the decision to finally break my silence and start speaking out. My childhood definitely motivated me and inspired me to step forward to reach out to others since I never had anyone to talk to when I was going through the abuse at h...
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One cause that has always been dear and near to my heart other than the subject of abuse is the subject of self infliction.  Self infliction is something that many people don't really understand.  Usually when people find out that someone is a cutter, they are quick to judge them and treat them as an outcast, often labeling them as a freak.  They don't realize that there is a reason behind why a person self inflicts.  Instead of getting the story though and talking to the person about it, the...
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I've always been a huge fan of movies in which the underdog gains victory after having worked hard to make it to the top.  Two of my favorite movies happen to be The Guardian and Annapolis.  I think I'm so drawn to those two films because the main characters in each are people that no one expected to make it very far.  People discouraged them from going for their dreams and they faced obstacles that stood in their way, but they kept on going after their goals and didn't allow anything to get ...
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When I used to hear the phrase, "spreading awareness," I always thought that it had more to do with reciting statistics and facts about abuse. It seemed as if all the awareness sites I visited had less to do with survivors' actual stories and more to do about where to get help, phone numbers to call, listing shelters, and listing statistics and facts regarding abuse. I really did not come across very many sites in which survivors spoke out and shared their experiences and stories with others....

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I find it sad whenever other survivors want to judge their fellow survivors and put them down for things they have been through. Of all people, our fellow survivors should understand what we have endured and suffered since they went through similar things in their own lives. Yet, some of them want to harshly criticize those survivors who take that step to speak out. Isn't it bad enough that we have those who haven't gone through abuse judging us all the time and putting us on trial? But then ...

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Memories, little things that can be quite haunting at time. Although I love the Fall weather, it always brings with it bad memories of events that happened in my past. The abuse I went through usually took place during the Fall and the holiday season. Although people tell me not to worry about the memories and to just focus on other things and not let the memories consume me, it is not that easy. When you've gone through traumatic events in your life, there's no way that you are going to co...

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f there is one subject in society that seems to go ignored and unnoticed it is the subject of domestic violence.  People don’t realize how much abuse goes on in homes and tears families apart.  Domestic violence, sadly, happens on a daily basis, destroying self esteems and dividing households.  Many people fail to see and understand just how much damage it causes and the emotional scars it leaves behind.  

Living in a home where domestic violence is involved does not only affect the pe...

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