Please have a look at the Male Survivor Website - http://www.malesurvivor.org/myths.html
I hope this helps with what is the real truth, and to ensure that we don't discriminate against our abused men, who are currently pretty isolated.
Here is some news for Male Survivor from my friend and talented musician Mike Skinner on the topic of Survivorhood -
The Surviving Spirit Newsletter Nov 2010
The Surviving Spirit Newsletter
– Healing the Heart Through the Creative Arts -
Out of
suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared
with scars. - Kahlil Gibran
Hello Folks,
.. .. .. Nov
2010
Greetings and my best to all - it is hard to believe that November is
almost over and soon we will be entering into a New Year. I hope this latest
newsletter finds you to be in a good place, I know that the holidays can be a
difficult time to go through for so many. Hopefully, with this
month’s sharing of resources and information, it may help those of you
who struggle through this season of the year – personally, it has always
been a difficult time for me.
We can also experience great joy at this time of year, and yet,
sometimes the slightest trigger of painful thoughts, feelings or memories from
the past can send many into a downward slide. The good news, there are all
kinds of ways and resources to help us cope and move past these debilitating
feelings and memories. If you are struggling, please reach out; please do not
be alone in your pain. Take the time to treat yourself to something nice -
because you deserve it. You can also visit our website Resources Section for a
variety of resources to help you; these website links can lead you to all kinds
of hope, healing and help - http://survivingspirit.com/..resources.html
Our thanks to Alison Rogers for sharing these insightful resources that
help create awareness and education regarding concerns around the holidays for
those who struggle with PTSD and depression – this information can also
help their family and friends.
PTSD and the Holidays - http://www.sidran.org/pdf/..PTSDandholidays.pdf
State of Grace - An Adult Child Abuse Survivor's Guide to
the Holidays –
Sometimes just the simple act of sharing your story with someone can be
one of the most powerful tools for healing – it is exciting to be able to
share some great resources that can help you in that process. Maybe these
sources of inspiration can lead you to some of your own ideas to help not only
yourself, but to also help others – just as these kind and caring folks
and organizations are doing with their respective works and advocacy.
1] Meghan Caughey has founded a new arts organization called VISIONS:
A.R.T.- Art for Resilience and Transformation - VISIONS will inspire persons
who have lived experience of mental health challenges to create art that
expresses their unique stories, creating opportunities to educate, inform, and
transform public perception of what it means to have mental health
challenges.
You can learn more at - http://www.visions-art.org/
Meghan recently received “The Howie the Harp Award” at the
Alternatives 2010 Annual Conference - “Promoting Wellness Through Social
Justice”. This distinguished award is given each year to someone who best
exemplifies social change in using the creative arts. Meghan is someone who I
not only think of as a ‘Surviving Spirit”, but also a gentle spirit
and she gives so much to so many in her creative advocacy efforts - so a well
deserved award. You can learn more about the Alternatives Conference at:
http://www.power2u.org/..alternatives2010/index.html
and “The Howie the Harp Award”
at: http://www...alteredstatesofthearts.com/..index.htm
- then click on News and Info.
2] Gayle Bluebird who has been ‘in the trenches’ for so
long in helping and inspiring so many was also honored recently with a VOICE
Award. The VOICE awards
are given annually by SAMHSA [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration] to honor movies, TV shows, and stars that portray mental
illness in a positive light. They also present six consumer advocate
awards. This year Gayle was one of them [and justly so], along with
a few others you may know; Laverne Miller, Janet Paleo, Moe Armstrong - who
received the Lifetime Achievement Award [way to go Moe!!], Fred Freese,
Clarence Jordan and Lorrin Gehring [for the youth award].
I am one of those who Gayle has helped to inspire in my own creative
advocacy endeavors; she has been a friend, a peer, mentor and so much more.
Please visit the NASMHPD [National Association of State Mental Health Program
Directors] website to read her bio and her acceptance speech along with
pictures of the event – just scroll down to - Recent updates and
Information:
http://www.nasmhpd.org/..consumernetworking.cfm
3] Ed Pazicky, Coordinator and Webmaster for Altered States of the Arts
– “Promoting Recovery Through Art’ is looking for artists to
display their creative efforts at the website - www.alteredstatesofthearts.com
Ed is another one of those caring people who helps so many others, just
visit the website to see this in action. He’s also posted Gayle
Bluebird’s above mentioned award and information – scroll down to
Bluebird’s Words. Please contact Ed at - edpazicky@comcast.net
4] Corinna West is gathering recovery stories and recovery poems to
post on her website for Poetry for Personal Power. Corinna’s words sum it
up best – “I would love to feature works from people across the
country.” Please contact her at:
Corinna West, MS, CPS Creative Director, Human Hand Wordworks
PO Box 172351, Kansas City, KS 66117 816-392-6074
http://corinnawest.com/
corinnawest816@gmail...com
5] Draw That Beast is an online art project. People are welcome to
submit original artwork (drawings, paintings, montages, photos) of how
depression visually looks to them. Anyone is welcome to join in; it is not an
art competition. If you can't draw, then take a photo or compile some pictures
together that have some meaning to you. If words fit best, then that is ok too.
http://drawthatbeast.blogspot...com/
Submit by email: drawthatbeast@gmail.com
Submit by post:
Draw that Beast, PO Box 7043, Watson ACT, AUSTRALIA 2602
Christopher De Serres has created a powerful medium for the millions of sexual
abuse survivors out there who want to tell their stories - many of whom feel
isolated and unable to express the deepest pain in our lives. The
“My Name Is Project” is there to provide a survivor a way to
express it via video sharing. All of the information and resources to help you
in this worthwhile endeavor are posted at –
Chris and his wife Ophelia are also the founders of (Wo)Men Speak
Out™ - a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating violence
against both genders. They seek to educate both men and women, cultivating
healthy relationships and gender equity. Learn more at - http://www.womenspeakoutnow...com
Chris also took part in the recent Oprah Winfrey shows about males who were
sexually abused as children.
7] Lauren Leigh, mental health activist and founder of “On the
Borderline” [and fellow NH resident!!] is looking for your videos about
your experiences while living with Borderline Personality Disorder. Please
include all of your relevant links in the email – e.g. your You Tube
channel, Facebook or Myspace profile, your blog, etc and send to – contact@ontheborderline.org
To learn more, please visit Lauren’s sites at - http://ontheborderline.org/
and
http://www.youtube.com/..ontheborderline30
8] Sharon Wise is now holding first readings for people interested in
her hit play, "Meet me on the Moon". She’s looking for two
females and one male actor to be a part of this creative effort – so if
you are in the Washington, DC area, please contact her at
Skype - 202-460-2753 or by
e-mail at - thehouseofsharon@msn.com
I have been fortunate to
experience Sharon’s powerful dance renditions and her equally
impressive art creations, so I can’t wait to see this play.
9] Kate Swift’s book - “This Tangled Web” is one
woman’s journey from victim to survivor. It is the untangling of a web
created by the pain of childhood sexual abuse. The author brings you to the
center of the web through her poetry and art, allowing you to see the journey
through her eyes.
http://www.thistangledweb.co...uk/kate-swift-book.htm
10] Chipmunka Publishing’s catalog of mental health books gives a
voice to writers with mental illness around the world. They help to raise
awareness of mental health and the stigma surrounding mental health problems by
encouraging society to listen. They are offering 45 Free E books to
download from their website, learn more at - http://www...chipmunkapublishing.co.uk
Click on specials and then e books.
I would like to close by sharing this quote from Albert Einstein -
“Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of
value.” I truly believe that all of you who are mentioned in these
newsletters and those who graciously receive them exemplify this quote –
Thank you for what you do in helping others.
Please keep the Surviving Spirit in mind for your next event when you
need a talented and inspirational keynote or workshop presenter. Please visit
our Speakers’ Bureau for all of your needs - http://survivingspirit.com/..Speakers_Bureau.html
You can help the Surviving Spirit in its Mission to help
others with your Time, Treasure or Talent. To learn more please visit - http://survivingspirit.com/..donate.html
Take care, Mike
ps. Please share this with your friends
& if you have received this in error, please let me know.
Our
lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
A
diagnosis is not a destiny.
www.survivingspirit.com
– Healing the Heart Through the Creative Arts
Speakers’ Bureau - http://survivingspirit.com/..Speakers_Bureau.html
www.mskinnermusic.com
- Hope, Healing, & Help for Trauma, Abuse, & Mental Health through
music, resources, & advocacy
www.new.facebook.com/profile...php?id=635415804%20 Facebook - for friends, music, & advocacy!!
"BE the change you
want to see in the world." Mohandas Gandhi
Please don't forget to sign the Sean's Voice Petition to ensure that our guys who are enduring and suffering abuse issues can get access to emergency shelter, support, and services to overcome and become the survivors we all need to be. Please click this link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/a-new-perspective-the-unacknowledged-abuse-survivors/
Thank you for your continued support!
Lika & YVI
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