“Survivors of abuse show us the strength of their personal spirit every time they smile.” — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“There is a moment in our healing journey when our denial crumbles; we realize our experience and it's continued effects on us… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Dissociated trauma memories don't reveal themselves like ordinary memories. Like pieces of a puzzle, they escape the primitive part of our brain… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Stuffing our memories might become familiar over the years, but it requires a mental vigilance that separates us from our inner world.… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“In the weeds of childhood sexual abuse, we are the sturdy flowers that kept reaching for a slip of sunshine and a… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Sometimes, during our healing journeys, those closest to us can’t help even though we all wish it could be that way. Allow… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“You can recognize survivors of abuse by their courage. When silence is so very inviting, they step forward and share their truth… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“You can recognize survivors by their creativity. In soulful, insightful, gentle, and nurturing creations, they often express the inner beauty they brought… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“When we learn to recognize the unique quality of Memory-Dreams, we are empowered. The abused child within us is using them to… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Survivors are often incredibly aware and perceptive. What was born of necessity becomes a response that is gentle and understanding.” — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Honoring all ways we survived our childhood abuse is healing. We were amazing and courageous.” — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“For girls who've been pressured into sex they didn't want, growing into a woman's body can be terrifying. Anorexia and bulimia can… — Ellen Bass Copy Share Image
“There are many heartfelt reasons for pushing our childhood sexual abuse to the edge of our lives and one amazing reason to… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“We aren't the weeds in the crack of life. We're the strong,amazing flowers that found a way to grow in the most… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Controlling my environment was still a compelling need for me. I did everything I could to not be surprised by anything... Looking… — Olga Trujillo Copy Share Image
“When you feel caught in the web of childhood abuse, find words to describe it. Write them. Say them. Express them. In… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Carla's description was typical of survivors of chronic childhood abuse. Almost always, they deny or minimize the abusive memories. They have to:… — David L. Calof Copy Share Image
“So many moments of potential holiday joy got buried in the pain of our abuse. Now these days offer us a chance… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Early relational trauma results from the fact that we are often given more to experience in this life than we can bear… — Donald Kalsched Copy Share Image
“Fear and anxiety affect decision making in the direction of more caution and risk aversion... Traumatized individuals pay more attention to cues… — Suzette Boon Copy Share Image
“Our abusive parent didn't give us the gentle, encouraging nurturing we needed. But healing invites us to give our inner child the… — Jeanne McEvlaney Copy Share Image
“Logic becomes a loud voice when the wall of our past abuse begin to crack with awareness. But that's our adult speaking.… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“It takes Wonder Woman courage and Superman strength to heal the wounds of our abuse... because it brings change... and we are… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Honor yourself for all the ways you learned to take care of yourself during your abuse ~” — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“As a child, the best way to survive was to be still, to submit—to do nothing that might incur further harm. That… — Carolyn Spring Copy Share Image
