Self-Care and Resiliency Tips

Tools for the Journey

Self-Care and Resiliency Tips

Here on our Self-Care and Resiliency Tips page, we feature tips and tools survivors can use no matter what stage they’re at in their journey. For adult survivors of child sexual abuse, focusing on self-care and resiliency work is incredibly important for their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

On this page, you’ll find a range of specialized content that has been developed by survivors, for survivors. This includes a digital journal where survivors can express themselves freely and document their healing journey, a comprehensive list of books and written material related to child sexual abuse, cards with words of affirmation and inspiration, yoga videos to help ease anxiety and promote physical well being, and other unique materials that allow survivors to express their creativity and connect with others.

Hear from Melanie Sachs Barton, Survivor and Advocate, as she walks us through where to begin when seeking help.

SELF-CARE

Recovery is a Process

The effects of childhood trauma can last a lifetime, and survivors may struggle with a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. By prioritizing self-care activities such as exercise, healthy eating, therapy, and mindfulness practices, survivors can learn to cope with the emotional and physical effects of their trauma. Self-care also helps survivors build resilience, which is essential for navigating the challenges of daily life.

Through resiliency work, survivors can develop skills and strategies for coping with stress and adversity, allowing them to thrive and achieve their full potential. Ultimately, investing in self-care and resiliency work can help adult survivors of child sexual abuse heal and move forward with their lives.

SELF CARE

Interactive Tools

HELPFUL TIPS

Tip Sheets

When Institutions Fail Us: Sexual Abuse & Its Impact

Institutions have a responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse, and when they fail, the impact on survivors, non-offending members, and other institutions is far-reaching….

Media & Sexual Abuse: Self-Care Strategies for Survivors

The trauma of sexual abuse and other forms of violence makes survivors uniquely vulnerable to the ways in which these crimes are portrayed or addressed in media material. Developing and adhering to…

Self-Care After Disclosure

Be gentle with yourself. You are not going to be able to do everything you hope to do each day. Some days just existing can be its own victory….

How to Handle Intrusive Questions after Disclosure

Not everyone deserves to hear your story. You can choose with whom you share your experience….

How Your Trauma May Be Impacting Your Health What to Look For

Emotional trauma isn’t simply “in your mind.” It leaves a very real mark on your body….

5 Tips for Finding a Culturally Competent Therapist

The early stages of finding mental health assistance can be overwhelming for survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA). Mental health providers who are culturally competent are an integral part of quality mental…

Self-Care Strategies for Survivors of CSA

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors….

self-care & resiliency

Video Resources

Self-Care After Abuse

In this video, Danielle discusses the importance of self-care for survivors, and what self-care looks like for her….

You Don’t Have to be an Advocate

In this video, Danielle discusses the pressure some survivors may feel to become an advocate….

The Impact of Media Attention

In this video, Danielle shares her self-care recommendations should a survivor choose to speak with the media about their case….

The Impact of Stress on Your Body

In this video, Danielle talks about how the stress from the trauma she had experienced manifested physically in her body….

After You’ve Gone to Court

In this video, Danielle talks about the challenges she encountered after the court process was over, and what she would have done differently….

Creating Systemic Change

In this video, Jillian talks about her experience showing up and sharing her story in order to promote systemic change in state laws….

Trauma Therapy

In this video, Jillian discusses how beneficial it was to seek therapy in dealing with her traumatic experiences. Specifically, she discusses the benefits of EMDR and how it worked for her….

The Kintsugi Method of Healing

In this video, Russell discusses his travels in Asia and how he learned about kintsugi, a Japanese technique of repairing broken ceramics by highlighting the cracks with gold instead of hiding them….

The Power of Self-Reflection

Russell discusses the importance of self-reflection in healing and having a healthy relationship with trauma….

Thrive, Not Survive

Russell discusses his dislike for the title of “survivor” in the anti-trafficking world….

When Therapy Doesn’t Work

The Challenges of Forgiveness

The Self-Talk Institute

What If My Peers Don’t Believe Me?

One of the most difficult areas for us to deal with as survivors is this topic of of what if your peers or your friends or your family don’t believe you um…

Taking Risks

You know many times when we think about taking a risk um it can feel really scary we can start to feel maybe you know that knot in our stomach um and…

Struggling with Addiction

So for me self-medicating was a huge part of all of the years that I that I spent just engulfed in the trauma experience I was I was in um and so…

Self-Care & Therapy

I think one of the things along this journey of healing that has been the most critical for me is finding ways to nourish myself finding ways to care for myself well…

Relationships Aren’t Transactional

So growing up in the household that I grew up in many times if I wasn’t good I would get punished and so what I learned at a very early age is…

Community & Connection

So when I think about um being connected to community and connecting with others in the beginning of this journey of healing that was terrifying to me because so many people in…