In love β€ with this π book already! π
When we get real honest and raw about what we go through, we have the power π’ to turn our words π£ into medicine π and our experiences into wisdom π‘ – Heart π Talk π by Cleo Wade
I’ve spent hours, months, and YEARS π©βπ» researching trying to find a career path that aligns with my passion. Being a Survivor myself I want to help others who struggle with trauma/π§ mental health. I remember crying myself to sleep some nights thinking I was looking for something that didn’t exist π€·ββοΈ .
I am so happy to share that I am now enrolled in becoming a π Certified Peer Support Specialist and a Victim Advocate. Now more than ever I truly believe our mental health system needs us!
What’s a Peer Support Specialistβ A peer support specialist is a person with “lived experience” who has been trained to support those who struggle with mental health, psychological trauma, or substance use. Their personal experience of these challenges provides peer support specialists with expertise that professional training cannot replicate.
I am striving to change the stigma by sharing my own story and my journey. In 2016 I started my personal blog where I spoke out about the trauma I experienced being sexually molested and raped as a child. I’m choosing to be completely transparent in sharing my journey to healing. I want other Survivors to know that you are NOT alone. I don’t care if I don’t know you. I need you to know that I care about you and I STAND by you π€π€
As I approach π¦ Fabulous π₯40 YEARS OLD I’ve been thinking a lot. Since I started working on my πͺ physical (still a work in progress) and my π§ mental health. I see the value in relationships π©π¦π©βπ¦±π±ββοΈπ΅ – that wasn’t always the case, especially since I had closed myself off for so long.
I can genuinely say that I am starting to π love myself and all my flaws! You would think π€ loving yourself would be natural and easy rightβ But loving yourself means building π€ a relationship with π yourself. Just like any relationship, it takes effort π₯°, it takes kindness and patience. Also, make yourself βοΈ Priority.
Healing During COVID
I truly hope that my tips might help you during this difficult time. You are not alone. We are in this together and we are Survivors πππ
Thank you to Saprea (formerly The Younique Foundation) for allowing me to be part of your Healing During COVID series.
To find out more about Saprea and join the fight against child sexual abuse please visit them at www.Saprea.org
Typically, when people measure βsuccessβ in recovery from addiction, itβs with the number of days an individual has maintained sobriety.β£β£β£
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Mental Health recovery seems to be an “invisible” γ°οΈ journey. So to me, it’s important to live with purpose πβ£β£β£
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Self-care and mental health to me are crucial. This includes physical activity πΆββοΈ, quality sleep π΄, good nutrition π₯, and hobbies that create enjoyment π§ββοΈ. I’ve personally struggled with exercising mainly due to living in a cold π₯Ά climate and having a mood disorder called SAD (seasonal affective disorder).β£β£β£
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In addition to maintaining healthy and meaningful relationships. I am building a social connectedness π« network to stay engaged and support system. Interacting with others boosts feelings π€© of well-beingΒ and decreases feelings of depression. Research has shown that one sure way of improving your mood is to work on buildingΒ socialΒ connections.β£β£β£
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Measuring success in recovery involves more than tallying the number of “good days”. I think it’s beneficial to improve your quality of life β₯οΈ too. β£β£β£
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What has been some of your successβ
Learning to Accept all of me is a true gift to myself π
I might have all the words to explain what I am feeling but I will one day and I will share.
I was invited back to Utah to be part of a project dear to my π I told my story in an interview at Sprea (formerly The Younique Foundation) and my story will be part of The Song called “Believe” by The Gentlemen Trio – Gentri.
100% of the digital download sales will go to Sprea (formerly The Younique Foundation) to help pay for other Survivors to attend.
GENTRI Works with Younique Foundation to Share a Message
We are so honored and grateful to GENTRI for spreading the word about Saprea (formerly The Younique Foundation) and our mission. Their documentary is beautiful and poignant, and the song βBelieveβ is a message of hope to survivors of child sexual abuse.
My goal is to feel whole π not perfect. I’m stepping into my 4οΈβ£0οΈβ£’s recognizing that the work of my life is to heal π my wounds correctly. I’m no longer numb and I can finally feel the pain π that I buried deep down π³ inside. And I’m not afraid to feel the π₯Ίπ€¬ emotions because I now have my π§° toolbox π§ββοΈππ. As I continue to learn to ask myself “what do I needβοΈ”, I keep adding more ways π€π¦ΈββοΈπββοΈ to cope with PTSD π₯ and find things that make me π
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I have been π₯ reflecting and I can see that I’m on the right pathπΆββοΈ. I no longer allow myself to think I am permanently broken. I’m simply mending areas in my life that need some π TLC. It’s taken a lot of self-reflection to learn to shift my π§ mind. My π― goal was to find a way to heal but that’s no π
ββοΈ longer my goal. The reality is I may never heal fully and that’s okay with me. I have chosen to embrace every experience I went through. Even the memories where I felt like I was π broken.
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Instead of trying to hide those 𧩠pieces under the π§Ή rug. I am putting them back together with my own special coating of rose gold π resin to create beautiful seams like the art of π₯£ kintsugi. The truth is I would rather have a broken bowl put together πΊ beautifully. Then to throw away any pieces leaving it with holes and unusable.
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My life’s design is even more beautiful being vulnerable and having found my π£ Voice. A Strange Beauty has come from processing everything. A π gift to myself is to show up in this π world as me, mended breaks and all π.
‘ve worked so hard through a lot of self-reflection and finding balance. I am proud to announce my DREAM of having my own business is coming true! Launching January 2019! πManaging small and cause-based social missions to empower π« , increase awareness π and strengthen β‘ your message.
Talking about sexual molestation is not easy. But I am striving to change the stigma by sharing my own story and journey.
I choose to be transparent in sharing my story, my struggles and my journey of healing. I want others to know that they are NOT alone. I hope to be able to contribute in my own little way to fill in the gaps. Starting this podcast I truly believe I will be able to release all this negative energy. The guilt. The shame. The anger. The pain.
Thank you for listening!
