She didn’t get to choose her birth order, yet somehow it became her full-time identity. Before she even understood what responsibility meant, it was handed down like a family heirloom. She is the firstborn, the test run, the one who had to “know better,” “do better,” and “hold it together.”
We were not born into this world with the belief that we are “less than.” That notion is not innate; it is taught to us over time, until it embeds itself deeply into our identity. It arrives in small, nearly imperceptible moments: like being talked over when we share something, having our ideas questioned more harshly than others’, or being misunderstood repeatedly without anyone attempting to see from our perspective.
Most people don’t picture a male when they imagine a Victim of Domestic or Sexual Abuse. That reaction is not accidental; it’s the result of generations of gender and societal expectations that teach males from a young age to be invulnerable, unemotional, and always in control.
Many people think Emotional Abuse leaves no scars. After all, there are no bruises to point to, no broken bones to mend. But the damage runs deeper than skin. Emotional Abuse slices into the very core of a person, eroding confidence, self-worth, and identity until only fragments remain.
We are spending more time than ever communicating across digital spaces. From group chats to social media to livestreams and comment threads, our social interactions are increasingly taking place online. Social media use by athletes is also on the rise. These platforms allow athletes of all ages and skill levels to connect with their fans, celebrate their achievements, communicate with coaches, or engage with teammates and training partners. Yet, alongside the rise of positive digital interactions, the number of harmful interactions has also increased. Cyberbullying has become an increasingly prevalent issue in sports, affecting athletes of all ages and levels of competition.
Stress is something we all experience at some point in our lives. Short-term stress can even be beneficial. It can enhance your mental or physical performance or act as a protection mechanism. However, when stress becomes chronic, it can have a detrimental effect on our health and relationships.
The internet, designed to foster connection and facilitate the sharing of information, has seen a troubling transformation in recent years, as personal data emerges as a tool of exploitation. Doxing, the act of revealing an individual’s private information without their permission, has turned online environments into contentious arenas where the concept of privacy seems elusive. What began as a strategy used by hacking groups has now developed into a pervasive instrument of harassment, intimidation, and real-world violence. Individuals targeted by doxing endure significant repercussions that extend beyond mere online distress.
The internet has emerged as a crucial element of contemporary existence, fundamentally influencing how individuals connect, engage in their professions, and articulate their identities. Yet, amid these technological strides, a troubling trend has surfaced—the increasing acceptance of online harassment. What began as a phenomenon often trivialized as “just words on a screen” has now transformed into a widespread form of abuse, inflicting profound psychological and emotional wounds on its Victims.
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...
