Author: Advocate

Advocate

Culture: Do people have a victim complex?

In culture we hear a lot about the concept of a “victim mentality". But this is a deeply loaded term. It's also very politicized, mostly used by people who fall into the general internet style Right Wing circles and the "culture war". It usually is used in the context of those who belonged to a … Continue reading Culture: Do people have a victim complex?

Advocate

Informational Article: Signs of Sexual Abuse

Signs in Children: Anger and aggressivenessAny extreme changes of behaviour or moodsAn unhealthy attachment to a single personAnxiety and hypervigilanceAvoiding changing in front of people, dressing out for gym class, swimming or other activities where more than normal skin is exposedBeing overly compliant with requests, directions and physical contact. Or a “fawn” responseBleeding in the … Continue reading Informational Article: Signs of Sexual Abuse

Advocate

Question: How Do I Stop Being Angry at My Parents for Not Protecting me?

You can’t stop being angry by forcing yourself to do it. In general, you can’t force emotions, of any kind. Anger makes sense and is important. Anger at your parents for not protecting you, is something really common for survivors rather it’s their direct fault, or they were oblivious, or just didn’t listen. Telling yourself … Continue reading Question: How Do I Stop Being Angry at My Parents for Not Protecting me?

Advocate

Symptom Explainer: Why Symptoms sometimes worsen overtime

Trauma itself did affect you at the time of abuse, on a neurological level. Trauma, especially childhood trauma, reworks brain development. Trauma changes the size and development of sections our brains. Knocks our neurotransmitters, endocrine systems and the sympathetic nervous system out of whack (other changes as well). Symptomatology can vary between people and throughout … Continue reading Symptom Explainer: Why Symptoms sometimes worsen overtime

Advocate

Symptom Explainer: Why Abuse May Feel Unreal

Feeling like what happened to you isn’t real is a very common phenomenon with survivors of child sexual abuse. Here we will look at what fuels this sensation. Some of the main factors include poor memory, denial of trauma, personal downplaying of trauma, societal pressure, and emotional/psychological abuse. Poor memory of childhood trauma is often … Continue reading Symptom Explainer: Why Abuse May Feel Unreal

Advocate

Questions: Can abuse be Traumatic if you were unaware is was abuse at the time?

Thinking abuse is normal, even how sex and relationships should work, is common with CSA survivors. Most children don’t understand if and/or why sexual abuse is wrong. Kids don’t have a frame of reference of normal sexual interaction and are generally told by their abuser this is normal, this how relationships should go. If the … Continue reading Questions: Can abuse be Traumatic if you were unaware is was abuse at the time?