By: Mandie Schreck Growing up in a narcissistic household can affect a child’s development from adolescence to adulthood. Many people who grew up in narcissistic homes struggle with low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Narcissistic parents often lack empathy, encouragement, and even a desire to see their children succeed in life. Even if the individual cuts...
Category: Blog
Finding & Maintaining Motivation
By: Eileen Shea We’re entering into a new year, but the global health crisis that has been at the forefront of all our minds continues — now for the third calendar year. 2022 is the start of both a new year and a new normal. ARO is now hosting our first online event of 2022...
Recognizing Verbal Abuse & Setting Healthy Boundaries
By: Mandie Schreck Verbal Abuse can be difficult to overcome and even harder to set boundaries around. Establishing parameters for yourself can be a struggle when confronted with Verbal Abuse. How can you create a safe space for yourself where you have an open flow of healthy communication? Recognize Unhealthy Communication Habits The first step...
Healing From Generational Trauma
By: Whitney Derman Generational Trauma affects many families. It is commonly caused by creating a cycle of abuse by which each generation ends up passing their fears, anxieties, and other issues they got from their parents to their children, who in turn pass it down to their children. “Even if the abuse itself is not...
Is Sexual Abuse Declining Or Is It Just Underreported?
By: Whitney Derman In recent years, reports of Sexual Abuse seem to have gone down slightly. The question is, “Why?” Is less abuse happening, or is it just not being reported? Both factors come into play, but one is more prevalent. Sexual Abuse and harassment are taken much more seriously than in the past, with...
Extreme Religious Abuse: Healing Spiritually & Mentally
By: Mandie Schreck Spiritual or Religious Abuse is very complex because it has many layers. Not only does some Religious Abuse affect individuals mentally for the rest of their life, but it can also include other forms of abuse we educate on at ARO. When Spiritual Abuse coincides with Sexual, Narcissistic, Spousal, or Child Abuse,...
Finding And Maintaining Motivation
By: Eileen Shea Goals Why do we set new goals in a new year? The calendar is simply a reminder to reflect on what you want to work towards, but can also provide a psychological reset. Perhaps the new year brings a greater sense of motivation or ability to succeed. Even though one digit doesn’t...
Narcissistic Parents: How To Heal Or Strengthen The Bond
By: Mandie Schreck Narcissistic Abuse is often correlated with spouses, partners, or even friends, but what if Narcissistic Abuse starts from the day some of us are born? “A narcissistic parent can be defined as someone who lives through, is possessive of, and/or engages in marginalizing competition with the offspring” (Ni, 2016 ). Children and...
Healing Begins With Acknowledgement
By: Mandie Schreck What are the first steps in the healing journey for individuals who have been abused? Acknowledging the abuse you’ve experienced and having a clear understanding that you are not the one at fault It can be difficult for many because you may have many underlying fears, regrets, shame, guilt, and questions about self-confidence...
ARO Breathes Life
A Poem By: Josie Nelson Breathe in deep. Expand your lungs. Drop your shoulders. Raise your chest.Exhale s-l-o-w-l-y out your mouth, so you feel wind across your lips.Breathe in. Exhale out. Breathe in. Exhale out.Do you feel lighter? Do you feel brighter?Do you feel that little spark of hope that there’s more to come?More LIFE....