Included below are the basics for healing and recovery in everyday life. There are links to general information on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder, and on what it means to be a survivor.
Survivors: Who Are We?
"This information comes from a packet that was once given to me in a support group I was attending at the time. I hope it will help illustrate that we, as survivors, are in no way, shape or form, alone. And that we have more in common than what one might first imagine. Don't fool yourself into thinking, as you read through the list of symptoms on this page, that these are all common mishaps that are just a part of being human. Remember, while some of the symptoms can be experienced by any person, no matter who they are - it is not the symptoms themselves that define an adult survivor of childhood abuse. Its the differences in how these situations are handled between those who are brought up in healthy environments, and those brought up in abusive ones prior to healing."
~ Joanna Doane
Symptom Checklist
It might help to review what symptoms you've struggled with in the past and/or are struggling with currently to help narrow down the issues you might want to focus on in therapy, in a support group, or through self-help books.
Consequences of Abuse
Many people believe that child abuse has no affect on a person in their adult lives. However,this will show otherwise. While it's doubtful that, if you're reading this, you need a list of the emotional aftermath of trauma there may be something listed here that you haven't considered before.
The Choice to Heal...
These aspects of healing - or not healing - may illustrate an important concept to keep in mind through out your therapy or trauma work.
Rules of Recovery
This page lists some good rules to follow while doing trauma work.
Overcoming the Cycle
Putting the cycle of abuse to an end is one thing...overcoming it in our everyday lives is another. Hopefully this works to give you some direction, as it has helped others.
Our Bill of Rights
It's true every human being has rights. But survivors especially have a hard time standing up for them. Yes, it's true - in contrast to everything you may have learned up until now, you DO have rights. This is a list of some of them, but your rights are in no way limited to this page.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: "How Do I Explain?"
"This is an old essay I wrote depicting my own personal experience with having Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at the time. Know that you're not alone. And know that, as I have, you too can fully recover."
~ Joanna Doane
What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
So What is this DID stuff, anyway? This page offers an explaination from the Sidran Institute. The Sidran Institute, a leader in traumatic stress education and advocacy, is a nationally-focused nonprofit organization devoted to helping people who have experienced traumatic life events.
The Treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder
This article is written for professionals working with clients who have Dissociative Identity Disorder, but it does give some insight into the process of treatment. Not every opinion within this article is necessarily supported, but it always helps to see the process of healing through the eyes of, perhaps, the person whos guiding you there.
The Controversy of Dissociative Identity Disorder
"The following is my basic arguement on why Dissociative Identity Disorder should not be considered a "faked" or "created" disorder. This paper is a compilation of the research I've done on this topic and is representative of the conclusion I've come to as a result of my research."
~ Joanna Doane
Integration
Integration is a touchy topic within the DID community. Complete integration, in merging all parts of a system, is a goal not easily achieved. It takes a lot of time, emotional work, and a lot of love within ones system. What is important is that, with integration, no part of the system is lost.
Whats Your Distortion Style?
Everyone has distorted thinking from time to time. Most of us use it every now and again as a coping mechanism in not wanting to deal with certain realities. However, some of us cling to distorted thinking as an overall way to cope on a daily basis. This list can be used as a funny way to remind yourself of your own distortion when your way of thinking has become completely unreasonable.
The Ultimate Myth
Some of us carry the fear that we are going to go on to hurt other children the way we've been hurt, including our own children. Its devastating to have survived abuse, but its even worse to feel like a monster who is doomed to inevitably hurt someone else. While a small percentage of abused children do grow up into adults who hurt others, most absolutely do not. If anything, most survivors end up reabusing themselves. Hopefully reading this article will help to comfort you, and help you to understand that you're not doomed to become what hurt you.
Women Who Sexually Abuse
Its commonly believed that it is rare for a female to be an perpetrator in the sexual abuse of a child. However, perhaps this article will give you some insight into this aspect of sexual abuse committed against children, that is commonly denied or overlooked. Females do in fact sexually abuse children.
