By: Mandie Schreck Over nine percent of Americans (almost 30 million people) have been affected by eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and orthorexia (ANAD, 2021). Most individuals who suffer from eating disorders also have other mental health disorders such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. Many have also suffered abuse. This is...
By: Whitney Derman When I started writing this piece, my first thought was, “How is bullying not a type of abuse?” Both involve a person who considers themselves stronger picking on a person they consider weaker. However, after coming across the following definition of the two words, it is easy to see the difference: “Bullying:...
By: Josie Nelson I’ve always loved the quote, “Throw kindness around like confetti.” It just brings a smile to my face thinking about how simple kindness and inspiring others can be. World Kindness Day (WKD) occurs each year on November 13th, with its primary goal to “help everyone understand that compassion for others is what...
By: N.M. Bialko The term “love bombing” has become a part of our everyday vernacular and is often used to describe the beginning of what will ultimately become a toxic or emotionally abusive relationship. Moving too fast in a relationship has always been regarded as a potential “red flag,” but love bombing takes that idea...
By: Josie Nelson The holidays can bring such a whirlwind of emotions and expectations that can be difficult to manage. On one hand, you could be feeling excited about traditions and upcoming family gatherings. On the other hand, you could be nervous and even fearful of being hurt or triggered by past experiences. These seemingly...
By: N.M. Bialko Just before Christmas in 2019, I was home for the holidays but in the throes of a toxic and emotionally abusive relationship. I was feeling like a shell of my former self, and my mind was fixated on negative thoughts. I found myself thinking of a woman who had made the local...
By: N.M. Bialko One in six women will experience stalking and 66.2% of the time, it will be by a former partner. What is Stalking? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines stalking as: I am part of that 66.2%; I represent the 1 in 6. Will you stand up with me? I met with Prosecutor Mary Lynn...
By: Whitney Derman Mental Health awareness has made great strides in the past few decades. It is becoming more common to talk about mental health issues and increasingly more common to seek treatment. Despite the normalization, evidence has found that modern approaches to mental illness are not as effective as initially believed. Antidepressants and other...
By: Mandie Schreck Being a survivor of abuse, especially throughout childhood, creates a common fear of raising children and the need to be the best parent or caregiver you can be. We may think of ways we can create a do-over of sorts. If we grew up in an unsafe, abusive, or neglectful home —...
By: Eileen Shea It’s not uncommon for abuse victims and survivors to stay silent, even after they’ve escaped their tormentors because of the layered fear that exists in sharing their stories. Will they be seen as weak to have allowed the abuse to happen? Will they be seen as needy for asking for help? Will...
