Dearest Survivors,
I’m always riding this carousel, which was always my addictive sedative like cotton candy. Sweet and familiar, but toxic with its sugary sweetness filled with empty calories. Everything has an expiration date, a person, and a place, which I would hold tightly in my hand before I say my goodbyes. However, I still found m […] View
It’s so strange how I’m taking a community health major now to understand you better, especially since you haven’t been well for over the past year now. When did you not start feeling unwell? You gave me signs and indications in my digestive system accordingly. However, as you know, the mind and the bodywork both ways, so somet…read more
Danni, I am glad you are feeling better. Eating healthy should help is a nice habit to get into, even if it’s for health reasons. I always feel better in every sense when I eat more veggies. Keep getting stronger. Keep healing. And keep sharing your story. You are a beautiful person. Never change. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part…read more
It’s not an eating disorder, it’s a digestive tract disorder
It’s funny how this month started it all as I look back at my old emails. My major is community health, so I find it ironic and helpful as I go through this process. I went for my regular physical appointment, not thinking much about my health or any strong concerns. I’m a pretty healthy twenty-two-year-old woman, so I shouldn’t have anyth…read more
Danni, I am so sorry you are going through this. I actually had a lot of stomach problems throughout my whole childhood. For years, I went to doctor after doctor. Endoscopies. Gastric Emptying Tests. Blood tests. Test after test. Nothing conclusive Except for LPR. For me, I realized after I started writing about my assault that my stomach problems…read more
I’m so sorry that you have digestive issues. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for you. I to have recently developed some stomach issues and I’m not sure why I should do about it.
As I noticed March coming to an end, which makes me aware that women’s month awareness closing it curtains for next year. It makes me wonder why does it have to be a month to honor women for what we’ve been through? Why can’t it just be everyday, just acknowledging our accomplishments and hardships. Of course, it can be too much…read more
It’s so crazy now that I think about it we have a lot of months where they honor a group of people. Like Black History month and so on and so forth. But like you said why can’t it be honored daily. Why can’t changes happen for women now. We only get knowledges for a second and pushed into another season. Too much is reoccurring. If we honor…read more
Thank you, I love all that you said. It really bothers me how women (who bring lives in existence) means everyone living is due to a woman lying on her back/side no matter what way, bearing hours of pain to bring upon life, yet we’re not even being treated as second class citizens, treated practically not as a citizen/human at all. We’re put down…read more
The responsibility of being a woman is almost overwhelming. We are expected to look pretty and sit straight and shut up while the world walks all over us. We are forced to protect ourselves from everyone because boundaries don’t apply to people we don’t know. We live in a man’s world. Mind you not all men are the same; however majority rules…read more
I’ve noticed a lot your wonderful comments on my past posts. Already, just thank you for that, I appreciate it much. Yes, my GAD is a part of me, but I’ve learned that it’s not me and not my identity. Just a part of me, but dosen’t revolve around me. Once I got out of that mindset, it has helped me tremendously! Thank you, yep, I’m let…read more
Crazy midterms, finally had some time to read and look. Thank you so much for your words, I really appreciate it!
You’re right money comes and goes. Growing up, money was a constant thing, so sometimes I have trouble turning it off. I really like your suggestions with the anxiety. I’ve been rollerblading a few times, I’ll just say I…read more
I have stood in front of the mirror to gaze upon my reflection; a taunting voice has probed at my mind to tilt towards a criticizing approach about myself. My body posture deflated when my critical thinking unbuttoned the layers that had camouflaged my insecurities. I wanted to smash the mirror, I just couldn’t take how my r…read more
Danni – You are so smart and so beautiful – inside and out. I think loving ourselves is a process for us all. But it starts with ignoring any outside noise and truly falling in love with yourself. I am glad you started to treat yourself how you treat others. You have such a wonderful heart and there are so many reasons you are strong but I think…read more
Danni, I love this. Your words are so powerful. I voted for you. You have such a gift of words. They touch the heart. Good luck! Keep on believing in your beautiful, strong, amazing self.
Danni, you are such a strong and powerful writer. It’s true that we are our own bully’s because we tend to judge ourselves the hardest and think that a lot of people are thinking the same way as we are when they indeed are not. We tend to be our own enemies when it comes to judgment. Like you said, apply the empathy that you use with others to you…read more
It’s funny when I write to someone who happens to be myself in the distant future. I try to look forward to the future, instead of time-traveling to the past, which I happen to do a lot since the past is a part of the key ingredients that makes up myself. However, as you know, I have made my list that you already know I…read more
Danni! You’re amazing! All your dreams are going to come true! Congratulations on all that you’ve accomplished. This is just the beginning. Go to your new school and have the best time of your life. Don’t worry about money too much. We all worry about money and throughout life it will come and it will go. Just do your best to be responsible. As…read more
Crazy midterms, finally had some time to read and look. Thank you so much for your words, I really appreciate it!
You’re right money comes and goes. Growing up, money was a constant thing, so sometimes I have trouble turning it off. I really like your suggestions with the anxiety. I’ve been rollerblading a few times, I’ll just say I…read more
Danni! Every letter you write is just so amazing! I’m glad that you were able to accomplish so many things and not let (GAD) get in the way of that! That can be a barrier for a lot of people but not for you because you have such a strong and passionate mindset to fight and not let anything or anyone get in your way. Keep living the life you want.
I’ve noticed a lot your wonderful comments on my past posts. Already, just thank you for that, I appreciate it much. Yes, my GAD is a part of me, but I’ve learned that it’s not me and not my identity. Just a part of me, but dosen’t revolve around me. Once I got out of that mindset, it has helped me tremendously! Thank you, yep, I’m let…read more
That’s nice to hear you have someone you consider a sister. There’s no such thing as blood sisters only. I feel like in friendship we each teach other.
Friends are just like any relationships. It’s all about building and trust and communication.
Glad to hear you have a good friend and support system.
I really appreciated your comments btw! I’m 23, same, I can still relate to her. Even now more as I’m navigating the under land of adulthood. Yes age is just a number, I was watching a Disney movie, and someone like how old are you. I’m like a kid at heart who has good taste lol
Hi! Aw, thank you so much: Exactly fun should still be allowed in adulthood. Even stuff you found fun as a kid you can still do as an adult!And I always felt there’s a difference btw growing up and maturity. They tell us to grow up, but it all comes down to maturity in the end I think
Have you ever taken a picture, enjoying the present as you stay in the picture-perfect moment with your friends? Your mental health can be as fragile as a snow globe at times. The snow globe is stable when you hold it a certain way, but once you flip it upside down and shake it a bit. It becomes frazzling and the fake snow is…read more
Yes, I do have a friend. I call her my sister now because we’ve gotten so close. I’ve also taught her these things that you put out in your letter, which is very great in the way to teach people to stay true to themselves and shine light in their future. This letter is very inspirational and I’m glad that you were given such great thought and w…read more
That’s nice to hear you have someone you consider a sister. There’s no such thing as blood sisters only. I feel like in friendship we each teach other.
Friends are just like any relationships. It’s all about building and trust and communication.
Glad to hear you have a good friend and support system.
Mental health can be as fragile as thin ice on a river. To much weight and the ice gives out leading to you falling into the ice cold water. You’re helpless because you’re too heavy to pull yourself up but then love comes to save the day and drag you out of it.
Thank you so much for the encouragement! I felt better when I shared if that makes sense. It’s something I don’t talk about much, I sort of gloss over it, since it was pretty messed up. I think what helps is choosing my outfits and even wearing jewelry gives me a sense of strength and like this is my body don’t touch. I’m a very fa…read more
Letting your truth out is empowering and freeing and inspiring it. Never hold it in. Always let it out. Keep being you. Keeping being strong. And keep pressing forward. Xox Lauren.
You are my older sister, even though people mistook us being daughter and parent. We are fifteen years apart, a huge age gap, but we never really saw the bad in it.
However, you were like a mom to me in many ways. You said when I was younger, I would always say I want to go, and I would grab on your leg. You basically took me…read more
so sweet! I hope you show this to your sister. She will absolutely love it. You both are lucky to have each other. She sounds like an amazing person with a lot of good advice.
Wow, your sister reminds me of my older sister. I as well look up to her and so does my other siblings she was like our mother because she definitely took care of us more than our actual mom. Your sister would be so proud of you and I’m glad you have someone like her to guide you.
Of course, no problem! I also get about going to new places and meeting new people. Anxiety has a funny way to make us see the shadow of ourselves instead of the full stage. I understand about defense mechanisms, keeping people at arms length and trying to read this person intentions like a profiler. But I’m glad Lauren made you feel c…read more
I remember you sharing this in the writing workshop. I’m glad you posted and shared your experience. It’s funny how fate works when we meet people! Over a picture too, which was just wild and so cool. I liked how Lauren pushed you out of your comfort zone, but you didn’t feel uncomfortable and you guys got to meet up. The genuine…read more
Of course, no problem! I also get about going to new places and meeting new people. Anxiety has a funny way to make us see the shadow of ourselves instead of the full stage. I understand about defense mechanisms, keeping people at arms length and trying to read this person intentions like a profiler. But I’m glad Lauren made you feel c…read more
It’s so brave of you to share this with your struggles and put it in beautiful poetic words!
I like how you poem reminds me of slam poetry, it’s to the point and I can imagine a beat when I read through it. I like your own interpretation with how you deal with OCD. I feel like everyone might have different or relatable experinces . I…read more
I’m glad you liked it and it was nice to hear about your own experiences! Yes, that’s it, we grieve our youth. However, we don’t have to give up things we enjoyed as children. I have a Disney plus account, someone said are you too old for Disney, I stared at them bc I like watching my favorite childhood shows and movies. Just because…read more
Truly thank you for your kind words, it really means a lot to me. Yes, keeping focus and my ambition have helped me a lot to get through these obstacles. It’s always nice to hear someone has faith in me.
I’m always riding this carousel, which was always my addictive sedative like cotton candy. Sweet and familiar, but toxic with its sugary sweetness filled with empty calories. Everything has an expiration date, a person, and a place, which I would hold tightly in my hand before I say my goodbyes. However, I still found myself i…read more
Aww, I am so sorry this happened to you. When someone violates you, it totally does feel like for a moment in time you don’t own your own body. But remember, you have persevered. You have risen above. Be proud of your strength and continue to move forward in life with power and grace. Don’t let the people who tried to hurt you hold you back, ever!…read more
Thank you so much for the encouragement! I felt better when I shared if that makes sense. It’s something I don’t talk about much, I sort of gloss over it, since it was pretty messed up. I think what helps is choosing my outfits and even wearing jewelry gives me a sense of strength and like this is my body don’t touch. I’m a very fa…read more
Letting your truth out is empowering and freeing and inspiring it. Never hold it in. Always let it out. Keep being you. Keeping being strong. And keep pressing forward. Xox Lauren.
You are so strong and wise. What happened to you should never happen to a child, just as much as it should not happen to an adult. You are strong because you were able to work past it and you are wise because it opened your eyes to a whole different world and realize your truth and let it inspire others.
First of all, this poem was just splendid. I liked how, what’s the term, it’s like cut-throat and openly vulnerable to how we feel about ourselves. Shame and trauma, I hate how shame is put near trauma, since we shame ourselves for the trauma we went through but we need to keep reminding ourselves it’s not our faults.
I’m so happy I could write something that lifted our voices together and reminds us how strong we are on the inside. I like that you recognize how powerful writing can be for our therapy and healing. You definitely get me thinking how trauma is like elastic it sticks and it stretches throughout our lifetime but we don’t have to…read more