 EmpowerSurvivors- The Beginning  Elizabeth Sullivan, Founder/ CEO I just couldn’t believe that the pain of childhood sexual abuse that I had pushed so far back in my mind could come back with such vengeance. The flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, hypervigilance, nightmares, and suicidal thoughts seemed to take over my life and I thought I was losing my mind. I didn’t know who I could tell, who I could trust, and I was fearful of anyone finding out about this "secret" I had kept for decades. I feared things I did not understand and wore the cloak of shame and blame so tight around me that the thought of telling anyone of my childhood molestation and rape made me physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually sick. I was stuck in a world of negative voices, isolation, and mistrust, and I felt as though my life was over. I wondered how reprehensible abuse could be happening to children at epidemic levels and no one was talking about it. I wondered how I could go a lifetime not realizing how unprocessed trauma had affected my life. I wondered how I could go through life thinking I was damaged goods, dirty, and not good enough, and why when I finally did break my silence no one was there to support me or others abused as children. I just couldn’t accept the silence, the lack of education and support, and the blame put on survivors of this crime. So I began not only my healing journey but the beginnings of EmpowerSurvivors.” - Elizabeth Sullivan EmpowerSurvivors was created and founded by Elizabeth Sullivan in 2014. It was during her healing journey that she realized survivors needed an organization that would provide safe spaces of healing and support. Along with the safe spaces, Elizabeth knew that it was equally important to provide resources and education, so survivors could better understand their healing journey and how the child abuse that happened to them so many years ago, could manifest itself into every fiber of their being. EmpowerSurvivors Today Today, EmpowerSurvivors is a peer-led 501c3 charitable non-profit organization based in Stillwater, MN, and run and operated by adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and trauma. EmpowerSurvivors supports survivors locally, nationally, and worldwide. We believe in uniting our voices, supporting survivors on their healing journeys, educating communities, and reducing the adverse childhood experiences that affect not only the survivor but their families, society, and institutions. EmpowerSurvivors Work In the past 10 years, we have had the incredible privilege of :
What EmpowerSurvivors Offers
Meet Our Board Gabbie Belisle, Kelly Geiger, Jennifer Kindera, and Elizabeth Sullivan EmpowerSurvivors board members work together and meet monthly to fulfill our mission of helping survivors heal from the trauma of sexual abuse. Find out More!
www.EmpowerSurvivors.net [email protected] Donate today! www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=NVMS538GZ6U2G
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Today we want to thank all of you that continue to support our mission of supporting those that have been victims of childhood abuse! EmpowerSurvivors was created in 2014 by Stillwater, MN resident Elizabeth Sullivan. What started out as a peer support group meeting in a local library quickly morphed into a 501c3 nonprofit that is now able to reach survivors worldwide! Since 2014 we have visited and spoken with thousands of survivors of childhood sexual abuse, 250 prisoners of the Lino Lake Prison system, local colleges, Universities, local Rotary Clubs, businesses leaders, numerous podcasts, nonprofit organizations, MN House and Senate committees, survivor groups, survivor families, and Take Back The Night Events, and more!!! We could not do this work without all of you. Thank you to all of the members that bravely walk this healing journey with us, all of you who have " Liked" our page, our donors, fellow businesses, and past and present board members. We truly appreciate each and every one of you!!! More about the EmpowerSurvivors Organization: https://www.empowersurvivors.net/   Staying Sane During The Holidays EmpowerSurvivors is a 501(C)(3). All Rights Reserved. © 2022 www.EmpowerSurvivors.net ****Trigger Warning ***** Holidays can be a hard time for survivors of childhood sexual trauma and abuse. For many, it may mean reminders of past childhood abuse or knowing that the person that perpetrated them will be gathered alongside family members. This may leave you feeling a sense of loss and thoughts of why, why would my family still include the person that hurt me, took my innocence, and caused so much pain. Many survivors feel forced to attend holiday events simply because the people asking are “family”. Survivors may be asked by family members why they are still holding on to something that happened years ago or guilt-tripped and told “ you need to forgive, let it go” or other statements that only make the survivor feel betrayed, abandoned, unloved, and unsupported. As survivors, we know that sexual trauma and abuse are not something you just “ get over” but rather something that needs to be processed in a loving and supportive environment. Each survivor is unique so healing can look different depending on the situation. All survivors deserve support and that includes everyone reading this. How To Stay Sane: 1) Love yourself Give yourself the grace and love that you truly deserve. Go easy on yourself and know that whatever you are feeling is okay. You matter and so do your feelings and experiences. Take time to rest, buy yourself a present, and invest in yourself. 2) Surround yourself with positive and healthy supporters Building a strong support system around yourself is very important. This could include trauma therapists, fellow survivors, peer groups, or those in your life that have supported you on your healing journey. Have a code word for your partner that gives your partner the notice that it may be time to leave a situation or get together that is toxic. 3) Get enough rest, drink water, and watch what you are eating. Sleep is an important factor in life. Without adequate rest, our systems tend to break down. Getting enough sleep can help you handle the stresses of the holidays easier. Stress wears us thin, so healthy eating habits and drinking water can help us regulate our systems and stay healthy. Good nutrition can lead to less depression and an overall healthier lifestyle. 4) Learn or enforce healthy boundaries Think of boundaries as your property line. Boundaries help you to stay safe, is a form of self-care, create realistic expectations, and create safety. If someone crosses your boundary let them know what your expectations are, how they broke your boundaries, and help you advocate for yourself. 5) Know you are not obligated to attend functions simply because they're family. How many times have you been to a gathering that you felt obligated to attend simply because of “ family”? Give yourself permission to decline invitations where your perpetrator is attending or those that have not been supportive. 6) Learn that saying No is okay Many people struggle with saying, "No." Many people have a knee-jerk reaction to say “yes” when they're asked to do someone a favor. Keep in mind, you are never required to say "Yes." It's actually okay to say "No" sometimes. Accept this as you prepare to say "No" to someone. This will help you say "No" with ease. When saying “yes” make sure you are not saying no to yourself. 7) Fight the negative messages Watch your stinkin thinkin! So many times we have negative messages telling ourselves we are being selfish, not worthy, not deserving of love, etc. These are all lies and many times have been put there by our perpetrators or those in our family unit or well-intended friends. Every time you get a negative thought, notice it but kick it out quickly with a positive affirmation. Instead of saying “I am not worthy” replace it with “ I am fearfully and wonderfully made and worthy of much”. Become the person you needed as a child. 8) Create New Traditions Sometimes the abuse we suffered at the hands of others has found us all alone. Creating new traditions can help bring joy back into your life. Have your own party, celebration, or holiday tradition that is only attended by healthy individuals and those that support your healing journey. Volunteer at a food shelf, local school, or soup kitchen, visit the elderly in a nursing home, aid in others' healing, and get creative. You have the power within you to begin new traditions. No matter your situation please know you are not alone, there are many of us out here that celebrate you and your healing. If you are in need of more support please feel free to join one of our Facebook groups that support those that were sexually traumatized and abused in childhood. Together we can find healing and once again find joy. If in immediate danger please call 911 or your local crisis center. Written by: Elizabeth Sullivan, Founder & CEO of the EmpowerSurvivors 501c3 nonprofit.  EmpowerSurvivors wishes you and your families much peace and love during this holiday season.
If you would like to support EmpowerSurvivors, the survivors we support, our programs, groups, and classes please consider a donation this holiday season. We look forward to serving you in 2023 and will be announcing new classes and groups soon! Donate today through PayPal, through AmazonSmiles, Facebook fundraisers, or by simply sending a check. We appreciate all who donated in 2022!! Without YOU we could not serve those we hold so dearly. Donations Through Paypal: Select a one-time donation or support us monthly for more impact! https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=MRU3VP4L3KSFU AmazonSmiles Shop at https://smile.amazon.com/ and Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to EmpowerSurvivors nonprofit organization—no fees, no extra cost. Simply choose EmpowerSurvivors as your charity! Facebook Fundraisers Go to https://www.facebook.com/EmpowerSurvivors/fundraisers and click on raise money. 100% of the donations will go to supporting EmpowerSurvivors! Mail Check To: EmpowerSurvivors 815 Oak Street West Stillwater, MN 55082 |
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