self-blame – Resources for Ace Survivors

Friday Question: Self-Blame & Guilt

By Elizabeth| 2015-10-16T21:29:26-04:00 October 16th, 2015|Categories: Questions|Tags: friday question, guilt, self-blame|

What are the things you need to/have had to let go of, to stop blaming yourself or feeling guilty? - To those of you who have managed to stop blaming yourself for what happened to you: what was most helpful? Was there something in particular that helped you realize that it wasn't your fault? - To those of you who still struggle with self-blame: What is it that you tend to get most stuck on? Sometimes, if we talk about these thoughts and feelings, it can help to combat them with logic, and to hear validation from an outside perspective.

Triggers Everywhere: Refocusing in College After Trauma

By Bethany| 2018-04-09T02:41:45-04:00 August 25th, 2015|Categories: By & For Ace Survivors, Personal Narratives|Tags: college, cutting, depression, personal narrative, ptsd, rape, self-blame, self-harm, support network, triggers|

College can be hard even when nothing traumatic happens to you – especially in a physical therapy doctorate program – but navigating hallways where you could pass your rapist at any moment is hard on another level. And on a small campus, where he’s popular and you’re not? It can feel like all you can do is brace yourself. Forget support systems or telling anyone his name.

Friday Question: Mistakes and Flaws

By Elizabeth| 2015-08-13T20:02:27-04:00 August 14th, 2015|Categories: Questions|Tags: affirmations, coping strategies, flaws, friday question, mistakes, self-blame, self-hatred|

We all make mistakes, but due to the abuse many of us have suffered, we may tend to be overly harsh with ourselves when we do. We may feel that we are just "a bad person who deserves bad things," or dwell on times when we may have hurt someone even more than the person who we may have hurt does. How do you deal with your mistakes or flaws? - How do you feel when you realize you've made a mistake? - How do you feel when you think about a part of yourself that you'd consider a flaw? - Do you feel like your self-perception is really distorted by your trauma? - Are there any actions you can take that you have found can help you interrupt the cycle of self-blame or self-hatred? - What are some affirmations or validating words that you can use as a mantra to help you get through times when you feel really bad about your mistakes/flaws?