What is Choice?

By Paula Kavanagh

If you look up the word choice for a definition you will get so many alternatives to its meaning and many different contexts in which the meaning of the word choice changes. So when it comes to explaining why many victims that do not live with their abuser appear to choose to continually return to…

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

By June Kavanagh

Do you believe that Jeffery Epstein would have attracted and been able to sexually abuse girls who believed their self-worth was equal to his? Do you believe Harvey Weinstein would have been able to sexually force himself on beautiful actresses f they didn’t believe in his power and fear that his power could make or…

TRIGGERED!

By Paula Kavanagh

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO LISTEN TO THE BLOG In the past few weeks, I realised that the coping mechanisms I used as a child to survive my abuse were being triggered in response to the corona virus and the lockdown restrictions. Growing up I really struggled with anxiety that often manifested in anger. I…

APPEALING TO ABUSERS!

By Joyce Kavanagh

Apologies for the title only I wanted to be sure to draw your attention. Now that I have your attention, relax, this is not an appeal to abusers but rather an appeal to all of us who have been and continue to be affected by sexual abuse. I noticed the comments that followed yesterday’s post,…

LIVING IN FEAR! NOW DO YOU SEE ME?

By Paula Kavanagh

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO LISTEN TO THE BLOG We have spent years trying to help people understand the fear experienced by children who suffer child abuse or childhood trauma and how that fear impacts their lives. We do this not just to provide a deeper understanding of the crime itself, but also to help…

The Silver Lining in the Corona Virus

By Joyce Kavanagh

CLICK OVER IMAGE TO LISTEN TO BLOG  It’s frightening and surreal to think that we, or those we love could be harmed or even die from this virus and being confined and isolated from those we love only heightens the sense of panic we feel and makes it all the harder to manage our emotions.…

Accountability!

By Joyce Kavanagh

CLICK OVER IMAGE TO LISTEN TO BLOG  I was blown away when I heard the announcement of Harvey Weinstein’s sentence.  It felt like a personal win to me and I found myself checking the news, to be sure I wasn’t mistaken and that he had indeed, received a 23-year prison sentence. Even now I have…

YOU ARE YOUR OWN MOTHER

By Joyce Kavanagh

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO LISTEN TO THE BLOG  Mother’s Day is a national celebration enjoyed by many, but for others the day acts as a reminder of the lack of nurturing they received as a child. This often raises unjust feelings of shame and unworthiness in victims.  They can be bombarded with memories of…

The Price Of Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse

By Joyce Kavanagh

CLICK OVER THE IMAGE TO LISTEN TO THE BLOG  Besides the sexual abuse that went on in my childhood home, the physical, emotional and mental abuse was also an everyday occurrence.  Thinking about how I survived and the coping mechanisms I used, has been triggered by the questions arising while creating our podcasts.  Although somewhere…

Multiple Abusers – It Must Have Been My Fault!

By Paula Kavanagh

CLICK OVER IMAGE TO LISTEN TO BLOG  I’ve thought of writing about this for a long time and to be honest, I’m not sure why I haven’t. The abuse at the hands of my father, in many ways, made my other abusers fade into the background. I was sexually abused by a brother, John, whom…