Trauma

Keep Speaking the Truth

Alexis Acker-Halbur Cancer, Did you know?, Healing, T.R.U.T.H. Program, Trauma , , , , , , , , , , ,
A compelling quote about truth

Dear Wellness Seekers:

I received this picture and saying from a woman I greatly admire. In fact, this photo and saying are so touching that I wanted to share it with everyone I know. It has a very personal effect on me since some of my siblings have disowned me for speaking publicly about my childhood abuse. I am the only one in our family who admits that my father was the abuser, despite knowing some of my siblings were abused, too. (But that’s their story to tell. I can only write about my story.)

Telling the truth about an issue so despicable is never easy. After I survived Stage IV colon cancer, I finally learned that if I didn’t tell my personal story I was going to die. Sounds dramatic, but it’s the truth. What I learned was I had stuffed all my life’s trauma into my body, mind, and spirit, and the trauma dove deep inside my muscles, cells, organs, and bones. I could never understand why I had so many health conditions, that is until I was diagnosed with cancer – 3 times. In my research to find how I could survive a 6 percent chance of survival, I began to research and pray to keep living. My book, Never Give Up: Break the Connection Between Stress and Illness, helped me realize that I had the power to heal myself. (You can view this book on this website.)

Many of my siblings refused to believe and were angry that telling my story was a healing journey. They, in fact, thought I was seeking attention. They knew I’d been abused, but felt the truth should be hidden. Hiding that truth made me deathly ill. I struggled with telling the truth until cancer became a wake-up call for me. Now I believe that the siblings who disowned me are not liars but are living a lie. I never thought they would act against me.

My world has not come to an end and many of my cancers have come and gone making me extremely grateful. That is why I chose to tell the truth.

You can, too!

__________________________________________

Alexis Acker-Halbur is an award-winning author and medical miracle. Child abuse made her seriously ill and put her in harm’s way numerous times. She survived and now shares her experiences and tools with women and men who have been traumatized. To order her tools for healing trauma book, Never Give Up: Break the Connection Between Stress and Illness, click here. If you would like to read her 2020 published fictional novel, THE BEAR: In the Middle of Between click here.

Preventing Abusive Head Trauma

Alexis Acker-Halbur Did you know?, Never Give Up, Sexual Abuse, Trauma , , , , ,
Gears

Dear Wellness Seekers:

Since it is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, I am relaying a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) article I received from Juliet at D’Amore Mental Health. The following information is instrumental in preventing childhood brain damage.

What is Abusive Head Trauma?

Abusive head trauma (AHT), which includes shaken baby syndrome, is a preventable and severe form of physical child abuse that results in an injury to the brain of a child. AHT often happens when a parent or caregiver becomes angry or frustrated because of a child’s crying. It is caused by violent shaking and/or with blunt impact. The resulting injury can cause bleeding around the brain or on the inside back layer of the eyes. Data shows:

  • AHT is a leading cause of physical child abuse deaths in children under 5 in the United States.
  • Babies less than one-year-old are at the greatest risk of injury from AHT.
  • AHT accounts for about one-third of all child maltreatment deaths.

Crying, including long periods of inconsolable crying, is a normal behavior in infants. Shaking, throwing, or hitting a baby is never the right response to crying. For more information about abusive head trauma definitions please see Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma: Recommended Definitions for Public Health Surveillance and Researchpdf icon[1.6 MB, 56 Pages, 508].

What are the consequences?

Nearly all victims of AHT suffer serious, long-term health consequences. Examples include:

  • vision problems
  • developmental delays
  • physical disabilities
  • hearing loss

At least one of every four babies who experience AHT dies from this form of child abuse.

How can we prevent Abusive Head Trauma?

 Anyone can play a role in preventing AHT. Understanding the dangers of shaking or hitting a baby’s head against something, knowing the risk factors and the triggers for abuse, and finding ways to support parents and caregivers in their community are all ways to prevent AHT. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a resource, Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Technical Package for Policy, Norm, and Programmatic Activities.pdf icon[3.90 MB, 52 Pages, 508] that identifies a number of strategies to help states and communities prioritize prevention activities based on the best available evidence. This resource is also available in Spanish.pdf [21 MB, 52 Pages, 508].

  • Understand that infant crying is worse in the first few months of life, but it will get better as the child grows.
  • Try calming a crying baby by rocking gently, swaddling in a blanket, offering a pacifier, holding your baby against your bare skin, singing or talking softly, taking a walk with a stroller, or going for a drive in the car.
  • If the baby won’t stop crying, check for signs of illness and call the doctor if you think the child is sick.
  • If you are getting upset, focus on calming yourself down. Put the baby in a safe place and walk away to calm down, checking on the baby every 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Call a friend, relative, neighbor, parent helplineexternal, or your child’s healthcare provider for support.
  • Never leave your baby with a person who is easily irritated, has a temper, or a history of violence.

If you are a friend, family member, or observer of a parent or caregiver

  • Be aware of new parents in your family and community who may need help or support.
  • Offer to give a parent or caregiver a break when needed.
  • Let the parent know that dealing with a crying baby can be very frustrating, but infant crying is normal and it will get better.
  • Encourage parents and caregivers to take a calming break if needed while the baby is safe in the crib.
  • Be sensitive and supportive in situations when parents are dealing with a crying baby.
  • Be supportive of work policies (e.g., paid family leave) that make it easier for working parents to stay with their infants during the period of increased infant crying (i.e., between 4-20 weeks of age).

See Child Abuse and Neglect Resources for more resources about preventing abusive head trauma.

Thanks Juliet, for this great article!

__________________________________________________________

 Alexis Acker-Halbur is an award-winning author and medical miracle. Child abuse made her seriously ill and put her in harm’s way numerous times. She survived and now shares her experiences and tools with women and men who have been traumatized. To order her tools for healing trauma book, Never Give Up: Break the Connection Between Stress and Illness, click here. If you would like to read her 2020 published fictional novel, THE BEAR: In the Middle of Between click here.

“Forbidden?”

Alexis Acker-Halbur Did you know?, Never Give Up, Sexual Abuse, Trauma , , , , , , , , ,
“Forbidden?”

Dear Wellness Seekers:

I apologize for my website being down for 10 days. Seems I reached my space limit and, as you are probably aware, my site grew slower and slower. Well, that’s all been fixed as this site now has more space and power! I’m not sure what the “Forbidden” message was, but this site has never been forbidden nor was it hacked. I apologize for the worry this page caused. Thanks for sticking with me as I tore my hair out trying to get this fixed.

Did you know that the month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month? That means you’ll be seeing more information about how to stop and prevent the growing number of child abuse cases. I need your help to make sure the public knows and understands what child abuse is and how it harms our children. Adults who were abused as children are needed to tell their stories and start a chain-reaction to prevent this from happening.

Child abuse is a pandemic filled with threats, injuries, and lies. The following ghastly statistics are from the American Society for the Positive Care of Children (American SPCC) and include:

  • For all [other] types of abuse and neglect, statistics are about equal for boys and girls.
  • Although children of all ages experience abuse and neglect, it is the youngest children that are the most vulnerable; 7 per 1,000 children are victims of child abuse and neglect in their first year of life.
  • Annual estimate: 1,770 children died from abuse and neglect in 2018.
  • Almost five children die every day from child abuse.
  • 6 percent of all child fatalities were younger than 3 years old.
  • 3 percent of child fatalities involve at least one parent.
  • Estimated that between 50-60 percent of maltreatment fatalities are not recorded on death certificates.
  • Child abuse crosses all socioeconomic and educational levels, religions, ethnic and cultural groups.
  • 14 percent of all men in prison and 36 percent of women in prison in the USA were abused as children, about twice the frequency seen in the general population.
  • It is estimated, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) that there are over 42 million adult survivors of child abuse in the U.S.
  • There are so many more heart-breaking statistics…

As a child sexual abuse survivor I find these statistics to be appalling. One of the most revolting part of all is that child sexual and physical abuse continues throughout our planet (and perhaps the universe). If we don’t stop child abuse now it will only grow into a more devastating event. Do children deserve this? NO! Do you deserve to be healed? YES!

I’m working on a new book titled, Your Moment of T.R.U.T.H.: The Road to Unresolved Trauma Healing. It is a companion book to my T.R.U.T.H. Program Workbook, created to bring more information and tools to resolve trauma. I’ll let you know when it’s published.

During the month of April, will you do one thing to help me spread the word that child and domestic abuse are not okay? You can let your friends know about my website and have them register for new posts and tools. Thank you!

__________________________________________

 Alexis Acker-Halbur is an award-winning author and medical miracle. Child abuse made her seriously ill and put her in harm’s way numerous times. She survived and now shares her experiences and tools with women and men who have been traumatized. To order her tools for healing trauma book, Never Give Up: Break the Connection Between Stress and Illness, click here. If you would like to read her 2020 published fictional novel, THE BEAR: In the Middle of Between click here.

Thank You Wellness Seekers!

Alexis Acker-Halbur Did you know?, Healing, Never Give Up, Sexual Abuse, T.R.U.T.H. Program, Trauma
Two people using laptops on the grass

Since the New Year, I’ve seen an enormous growth of seekers who are signing up for my website. Currently, I have 13,470 seekers and growing. Please know that you’re making my dreams come true – getting my website out to as many people as I can, and providing interesting information on how to survive trauma.

My www.nevergiveupinstitute.org website is the best way I can share my stories, tools, and blogs that focus on TRAUMA (including but not limited to) and child abuse.

Now, I want to increase my social media activities with speaking engagements and interviews. I realize that my story is filled with abuse and the connection between stress and illness, however, I want to share my healing tools with all the people who have unresolved trauma issues. The ill effects of trauma can last a lifetime and result in all major health issues. That’s my story!

With the COVID-19 vaccine this spring, I’d like to get out into our world and help trauma survivors thrive. Once more people are vaccinated I can meet personally with trauma sufferers. I believe social media is needed to find people who are harmed and hurting from painful experiences.

Will you help me by sharing my website URL to others who may benefit from my writings? I’ve tried to increase the awareness of trauma and abuse for years now, but I’m not getting the exposure I’d like. Trauma is not easy to heal, but with my T.R.U.T.H. (The Road to Unresolved Trauma) program workbook, you’ll be able to see what trauma has done to you, and how you can heal.

I am currently writing another nonfiction book, entitled The Myths & Truths of Trauma. This book will accompany my T.R.U.T.H. workbook and make healing more understandable.

Please help me get the word out by encouraging others to follow my website.

Thanks a million,

Alex

P.S. I can also be reached through my email: alexisackerhalbur@gmail.com.

__________________________________

Alexis Acker-Halbur is an award-winning author and medical miracle. Child abuse made her seriously ill and put her in harm’s way many times. She survived and shares her experiences and tools with women and men who have been traumatized. To order her tools for healing trauma book, Never Give Up: Break the Connection Between Stress and Illness, click here. If you would like to read her 2020 published fictional novel, THE BEAR: In the Middle of Between click here.

A Letter to Republicans

Alexis Acker-Halbur Did you know?, Trauma , , , , , , , ,
A Letter to Republicans

Dear Republican Senate, House, and Governors:

You all killing me, literally! In fact, your killing hundreds and thousands of people – many of whom elected you. Your response to COVID-19 has devastated all of us living in the U.S. You do nothing to stem the flow of this pandemic and treat it like a flu. It’s not a flu, it’s a deadly virus causing suffering and grief for us all, and you do nothing to help us.

You are a disgrace to our democracy!

I know your inactive response is due to your fear of the biggest bully of our time. You’re afraid to stand up against Trump because you fear he’ll bash you on Twitter. You should be more concerned that the people who voted for you are dead or dying. How are you going to pay back all the deaths and grief you have caused against humanity?

You are hiding behind lies and misinformation. Your disregard for the citizens of our nation is appalling. And all the while you think you are doing the right thing for us. Don’t fool yourselves, you are all failures led by a president who only loves himself. What about “We the people…” and your loyalty and commitment to keep this nation safe?

You are traitors!

I know this blog post won’t change your scandalous reign. You’ll continue to foster conspiracies about voter fraud. Trump lost the election period. There is no sign of corrupt voting, there is only signs of your unwillingness to confront a malicious president. Are you working for him or us?

History will prove how inept you are. The great divide of the U.S. is your doing. You will be remembered at creating a dictator like Putin, Stalin, and Mussolini. No history won’t look kindly on you. The truth will emerge and you will be seen as too weak to confront a monster. Future generations will see what you did and how you manipulated our Constitution.

Stalling the transition to the president-elect team is the same as Putin making himself the ruler of Russia this year. I wonder how you sleep at night. Trump is a bully and he has made bullies out of all of you. Is this how you want to be remembered?

Your legacies will be fraught with lies, cover-ups, and heinous acts.

I have faith that you all will be replaced with kinder, gentler souls who care about us and our future. I have lost faith in you and will never ever vote for the repugnant Republican party.

This past election I voted for balance, harmony, and grace. All the things you are not!

__________________________________

Alexis Acker-Halbur is an award-winning author and medical miracle. Child abuse made her seriously ill and put her in harm’s way many times. She survived and shares her experiences and tools with women and men who have been traumatized. To order her book, Never Give Up: Break the Connection Between Stress and Illness, click here, or her newly published fictional novel, THE BEAR: In the Middle of Between click here.