THE ARMY OF SURVIVORS BLOG

It seems that we are all waiting for something. Waiting for 2021. Waiting for things to feel normal. Waiting for better times. Our lives have undoubtedly become smaller, our work, our social lives, and our alone time all confined to the same space, but this means that every activity that we do becomes a little larger, a little more meaningful.

While it has been a tough year, there is so much TAOS is grateful for. This Giving Tuesday, we ask that you help us continue the work that we are doing to #ProtectChildAthletes in sport. The following are a few ways you can continue to support us in our mission to raise awareness, accountability, and transparency to sexual violence against athletes at all levels:

By becoming mindful of our breathing we can calm the mind and energize the body, reducing afflictions and bringing balance into our lives.

With the coronavirus pandemic isolating the world, it can be even more difficult for survivors to gain access to the resources they need. Michigan State University mental health services are working hard to have their help be accessible virtually.

Everyone suffering from PTSD has a unique story and different needs for treatment and support. Changing your home surroundings and making some lifestyle adaptations can help you manage your symptoms. PTSD isn’t a sign of weakness, so have patience with yourself and try different things… Overcoming PTSD (does not have) a fast solution, but there are things you can do around your home and in your lifestyle to help you cope better on a daily basis.

We took some time to sit down with producer, author, former gymnast, and current CMO of Levi’s Jennifer Sey. We talked about her personal experience in the gymnastics world, her book, and her new film, Athlete A, out on Netflix now.

At TAOS our mission to end sexual violence in sport is inevitably intertwined in the intersectionalism of race. Our work can not be done without listening, learning, and critically examining the voices and experiences of those who are oppressed in this country. In order to recognize the voices of those doing culturally specific work and advocacy, we must lift up organizations in our community beyond ourselves. We will work to seek justice as a community in order to create the change needed to end violence everywhere.

I developed an idea to start an organization to train service dogs for other sexual assault survivors diagnosed with PTSD. Thus, Dogs for GRETA (Dogs for Gaining Resilience and Empowerment through Teamwork and Assurance) was created. I am honored to be able to help other survivors like myself. I struggle almost daily with thoughts of why I am still here and what my purpose is in life. Then a client will text me a picture or video of their pup accomplishing a task we have been working on for a month and my soul fills with the thought, this is why I am here.

At times, it can feel like those of us in advocacy are spinning our wheels. We are screaming for change at the top of our lungs and nothing happens. As someone who works in the field, I often refer to the feeling as a salmon swimming upstream. However, change is possible, as long as we keep screaming.

The past couple of months have filled with stress, and panic as the world grapples with the issues surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19). It is important to note that many survivors in our communities may be at higher risk to falling fatally ill during this time. Research over the past decade shows that those with adverse childhood events (ACEs) are at high risk for autoimmune diseases. With this in mind, we realize how important resources can be for survivors and for the community at large. We have gathered our favorites…

… My concern (is) understanding transgenerational trauma, being trauma informed, and healing while processing with survivors. As a survivor, I personally felt abandoned because I felt the proper resources needed to support me were non-existent. With the knowledge that I have now, I recognize as a young Black woman, that many people did not even know how to support me.

As a sexual assault survivor there are many stresses that consume our time. So why add to the stress, or even guilt, with a typical New Years resolution? Why even make a resolution? Setting and achieving realistic goals might help improve your mental health. Achieving a goal can increase happiness, your sense of well-being and even increase self-esteem. However, there are some tricks to setting a goal or making a resolution.

The Holiday season can be filled with shopping, family traditions, and various Holiday events and parties. It can also be a time of high stress and trigger feelings of anxiety and/or depression. If you struggle more during the Holiday season, you are not alone. According to a survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 64% of people with mental illness report holidays make their conditions worse.

The Ohio State University had a sexual assault organization open up recently on campus after the Title IX office closed years ago. This campus organization sits under under the state-wide OhioHealth Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio (SARNCO). SARNCO provides advocacy and emotional support services in conjunction with medical and social services at OhioHealth Emergency Departments and other facilities in central Ohio.

The #MeToo movement helped usher in an age of empowered women — and a lot of men as well — united against sexual abuse… Amidst the growing visibility of this crucial issue, however, many survivors might still be living in the shadows as their harrowing accounts could potentially trigger difficult memories from their own ordeals… here are some things survivors of sexual abuse often mistakenly blame themselves for, but never should.