Beauty After Bruises
@beautyafterbruises.bsky.social
Bringing light back into the eyes of survivors with Complex PTSD and Dissociative Trauma Disorders
🌼 Treatment Funding
🌿 Education
🌼 Outreach
🌿 Hope
🌼 Treatment Funding
🌿 Education
🌼 Outreach
🌿 Hope
Continued 🌻
September 30, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Continued 🌻
Setting boundaries is difficult for MOST people. For complex trauma survivors who've had their own repeatedly disrespected, ignored, or entirely obliterated, setting them today can be terrifying and confusing.
May these tips and examples empower you as you reclaim safe, vibrant relationships!
(1/2)
May these tips and examples empower you as you reclaim safe, vibrant relationships!
(1/2)
September 30, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Setting boundaries is difficult for MOST people. For complex trauma survivors who've had their own repeatedly disrespected, ignored, or entirely obliterated, setting them today can be terrifying and confusing.
May these tips and examples empower you as you reclaim safe, vibrant relationships!
(1/2)
May these tips and examples empower you as you reclaim safe, vibrant relationships!
(1/2)
What if...
What if you loved yourself the same way you love others? ...the way you wished another could love you? What if you let those buds burst and bloom inside your chest?
Put down the watering hose.
You ARE the garden.
🌼🕊️🌻
What if you loved yourself the same way you love others? ...the way you wished another could love you? What if you let those buds burst and bloom inside your chest?
Put down the watering hose.
You ARE the garden.
🌼🕊️🌻
July 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
What if...
What if you loved yourself the same way you love others? ...the way you wished another could love you? What if you let those buds burst and bloom inside your chest?
Put down the watering hose.
You ARE the garden.
🌼🕊️🌻
What if you loved yourself the same way you love others? ...the way you wished another could love you? What if you let those buds burst and bloom inside your chest?
Put down the watering hose.
You ARE the garden.
🌼🕊️🌻
Many trauma survivors were led to believe that if we bent and twisted our bodies up, tore them apart, they'd mold like clay—into a problem we could solve.
But we were lied to.
Made to do the enemy's bidding.
Wound up like a toy & pointed toward a mirror. To destroy any evidence they were ever there.
But we were lied to.
Made to do the enemy's bidding.
Wound up like a toy & pointed toward a mirror. To destroy any evidence they were ever there.
July 26, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Many trauma survivors were led to believe that if we bent and twisted our bodies up, tore them apart, they'd mold like clay—into a problem we could solve.
But we were lied to.
Made to do the enemy's bidding.
Wound up like a toy & pointed toward a mirror. To destroy any evidence they were ever there.
But we were lied to.
Made to do the enemy's bidding.
Wound up like a toy & pointed toward a mirror. To destroy any evidence they were ever there.
Neuroplasticity is a glorious, beautiful, hope-filled thing!
✨🧠🎆✨
✨🧠🎆✨
July 25, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Neuroplasticity is a glorious, beautiful, hope-filled thing!
✨🧠🎆✨
✨🧠🎆✨
You can also learn more about unmanaged dissociation broadly - what it may look like, other tools you can try in the meantime, and more. We also fully support therapists making this available to their clients. Healing tools should be for everyone! Happy charting!
🖋️⏱️📋
🖋️⏱️📋
July 20, 2025 at 5:33 AM
You can also learn more about unmanaged dissociation broadly - what it may look like, other tools you can try in the meantime, and more. We also fully support therapists making this available to their clients. Healing tools should be for everyone! Happy charting!
🖋️⏱️📋
🖋️⏱️📋
Dissociation is a beautiful, intelligent, and highly adaptive skill.
It makes everything from the painfully mundane to horrifically traumatic more survivable. It can dilute our physical pain, hold off overwhelming emotions, compartmentalize daily stressors/difficult memories, and so much more. But!
It makes everything from the painfully mundane to horrifically traumatic more survivable. It can dilute our physical pain, hold off overwhelming emotions, compartmentalize daily stressors/difficult memories, and so much more. But!
July 20, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Dissociation is a beautiful, intelligent, and highly adaptive skill.
It makes everything from the painfully mundane to horrifically traumatic more survivable. It can dilute our physical pain, hold off overwhelming emotions, compartmentalize daily stressors/difficult memories, and so much more. But!
It makes everything from the painfully mundane to horrifically traumatic more survivable. It can dilute our physical pain, hold off overwhelming emotions, compartmentalize daily stressors/difficult memories, and so much more. But!
Therapy services haven't always, historically, been safe rooms for complex trauma survivors to exist exactly as they are. We can reduce those compound injuries and provide support they've always deserved.
Prove they were right to speak.
..maybe even bump up the volume.
July 9, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Therapy services haven't always, historically, been safe rooms for complex trauma survivors to exist exactly as they are. We can reduce those compound injuries and provide support they've always deserved.
Prove they were right to speak.
..maybe even bump up the volume.
Disclosing trauma for the first time can be one of the most terrifying, vulnerable, and courageous things a survivor ever does—possibly only second to surviving it the first time. When that heroic feat is met with judgment, shock, or, worse, silence, survivors may walk away feeling ...
July 9, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Disclosing trauma for the first time can be one of the most terrifying, vulnerable, and courageous things a survivor ever does—possibly only second to surviving it the first time. When that heroic feat is met with judgment, shock, or, worse, silence, survivors may walk away feeling ...
You shouldn't have to toughen up.
..or harden your heart and brace your spine just to be here at all. We'll keep working to soften this world's punches and landmines so you get to be delicate—simple and eager—with hope that runs easy and freedom in your feet.
...the way it always should have been.
..or harden your heart and brace your spine just to be here at all. We'll keep working to soften this world's punches and landmines so you get to be delicate—simple and eager—with hope that runs easy and freedom in your feet.
...the way it always should have been.
July 3, 2025 at 8:35 PM
You shouldn't have to toughen up.
..or harden your heart and brace your spine just to be here at all. We'll keep working to soften this world's punches and landmines so you get to be delicate—simple and eager—with hope that runs easy and freedom in your feet.
...the way it always should have been.
..or harden your heart and brace your spine just to be here at all. We'll keep working to soften this world's punches and landmines so you get to be delicate—simple and eager—with hope that runs easy and freedom in your feet.
...the way it always should have been.
I am allowed to cry.
I am allowed to feel.
...to be angry.
...to be seen.
...to know myself.
I am allowed to ask for help.
...to recognize my limits.
...to admit my weaknesses.
...to need.
I am allowed to be vulnerable.
I am allowed to be human.
🖤🤲🤍
I am allowed to feel.
...to be angry.
...to be seen.
...to know myself.
I am allowed to ask for help.
...to recognize my limits.
...to admit my weaknesses.
...to need.
I am allowed to be vulnerable.
I am allowed to be human.
🖤🤲🤍
June 27, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I am allowed to cry.
I am allowed to feel.
...to be angry.
...to be seen.
...to know myself.
I am allowed to ask for help.
...to recognize my limits.
...to admit my weaknesses.
...to need.
I am allowed to be vulnerable.
I am allowed to be human.
🖤🤲🤍
I am allowed to feel.
...to be angry.
...to be seen.
...to know myself.
I am allowed to ask for help.
...to recognize my limits.
...to admit my weaknesses.
...to need.
I am allowed to be vulnerable.
I am allowed to be human.
🖤🤲🤍
You get to have a say. A voice.
Control. Agency. Autonomy.
FREEDOM.
Your will has ALWAYS been stronger than theirs. They have no control over you anymore.
Control. Agency. Autonomy.
FREEDOM.
Your will has ALWAYS been stronger than theirs. They have no control over you anymore.
June 24, 2025 at 7:40 PM
You get to have a say. A voice.
Control. Agency. Autonomy.
FREEDOM.
Your will has ALWAYS been stronger than theirs. They have no control over you anymore.
Control. Agency. Autonomy.
FREEDOM.
Your will has ALWAYS been stronger than theirs. They have no control over you anymore.
"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here. ... For my will is as strong as yours. You have NO POWER OVER ME!"
Today, we share the art of Amber Galore knowing this Labyrinth quote speaks to so many of you. Complex trauma survivors KNOW the depths of these words.
Today, we share the art of Amber Galore knowing this Labyrinth quote speaks to so many of you. Complex trauma survivors KNOW the depths of these words.
June 24, 2025 at 7:40 PM
"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here. ... For my will is as strong as yours. You have NO POWER OVER ME!"
Today, we share the art of Amber Galore knowing this Labyrinth quote speaks to so many of you. Complex trauma survivors KNOW the depths of these words.
Today, we share the art of Amber Galore knowing this Labyrinth quote speaks to so many of you. Complex trauma survivors KNOW the depths of these words.
No more silencing. Hiding. Self punishing. We're here — welcoming ALL parts of you. As they are.
🤍🗝️🖤
🤍🗝️🖤
June 19, 2025 at 11:20 PM
No more silencing. Hiding. Self punishing. We're here — welcoming ALL parts of you. As they are.
🤍🗝️🖤
🤍🗝️🖤
If you ask any complex trauma survivor what the one emotion they're most familiar with is, the answer is likely to be shame. Or, they may also have it buried so deeply inside themselves - a concerted effort to not see it, know it, feel it - they forgot it was hidden in there. In everything.
June 19, 2025 at 11:20 PM
If you ask any complex trauma survivor what the one emotion they're most familiar with is, the answer is likely to be shame. Or, they may also have it buried so deeply inside themselves - a concerted effort to not see it, know it, feel it - they forgot it was hidden in there. In everything.
Nothing unsettles those who hurt you more than a voice - a life - lived out loud. Unapologetic, unashamed, uninhibited,
unquiet.
Sing until that voice runs hoarse.
unquiet.
Sing until that voice runs hoarse.
June 13, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Nothing unsettles those who hurt you more than a voice - a life - lived out loud. Unapologetic, unashamed, uninhibited,
unquiet.
Sing until that voice runs hoarse.
unquiet.
Sing until that voice runs hoarse.
Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation.
—bell hooks
—bell hooks
June 12, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation.
—bell hooks
—bell hooks
We are sending so much strength and support to you in your healing!
💙🌻💚
*HELPFUL NOTE* To therapists or practices who want to print this for their clients/offices, just message us and we'll gladly share the official file so it's nice and crispy clear for print! No matter how many copies ya need!
💙🌻💚
*HELPFUL NOTE* To therapists or practices who want to print this for their clients/offices, just message us and we'll gladly share the official file so it's nice and crispy clear for print! No matter how many copies ya need!
June 8, 2025 at 11:56 PM
We are sending so much strength and support to you in your healing!
💙🌻💚
*HELPFUL NOTE* To therapists or practices who want to print this for their clients/offices, just message us and we'll gladly share the official file so it's nice and crispy clear for print! No matter how many copies ya need!
💙🌻💚
*HELPFUL NOTE* To therapists or practices who want to print this for their clients/offices, just message us and we'll gladly share the official file so it's nice and crispy clear for print! No matter how many copies ya need!
Save this to your gallery, or print it out and keep it in the places you tend to struggle the most. Then, use the QR Code Scanner in your phone to get the tools you need right away. No need to search for links or read a bunch of text to find it. Relief right in your pocket, without all the hurdles!
June 8, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Save this to your gallery, or print it out and keep it in the places you tend to struggle the most. Then, use the QR Code Scanner in your phone to get the tools you need right away. No need to search for links or read a bunch of text to find it. Relief right in your pocket, without all the hurdles!
SURVIVOR TOOLKIT 🌻
We're coming in at a new time today, but survivors of complex trauma can find themselves struggling at any time of day. Whatever time those unmanaged symptoms may strike, just being able to remember who and where you ARE can be difficult.
...🧵
We're coming in at a new time today, but survivors of complex trauma can find themselves struggling at any time of day. Whatever time those unmanaged symptoms may strike, just being able to remember who and where you ARE can be difficult.
...🧵
June 8, 2025 at 11:56 PM
SURVIVOR TOOLKIT 🌻
We're coming in at a new time today, but survivors of complex trauma can find themselves struggling at any time of day. Whatever time those unmanaged symptoms may strike, just being able to remember who and where you ARE can be difficult.
...🧵
We're coming in at a new time today, but survivors of complex trauma can find themselves struggling at any time of day. Whatever time those unmanaged symptoms may strike, just being able to remember who and where you ARE can be difficult.
...🧵
Most of us were taught as little children that "violence is bad," and - for the most part - believed we knew what that would look like.
But, as adults, many still find themselves invalidating any wound that did not leave a mark.
But, as adults, many still find themselves invalidating any wound that did not leave a mark.
May 26, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Most of us were taught as little children that "violence is bad," and - for the most part - believed we knew what that would look like.
But, as adults, many still find themselves invalidating any wound that did not leave a mark.
But, as adults, many still find themselves invalidating any wound that did not leave a mark.
Sometimes there are facts and figures so sobering you need to just sit with them for a bit; let them settle and sink in.
Back in 2018, at the YTVC Conference, Michael Bourke walked us through the arduous process of getting child sex offenders convicted.
Back in 2018, at the YTVC Conference, Michael Bourke walked us through the arduous process of getting child sex offenders convicted.
May 18, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Sometimes there are facts and figures so sobering you need to just sit with them for a bit; let them settle and sink in.
Back in 2018, at the YTVC Conference, Michael Bourke walked us through the arduous process of getting child sex offenders convicted.
Back in 2018, at the YTVC Conference, Michael Bourke walked us through the arduous process of getting child sex offenders convicted.
Scratch that - make it less than 5.
That's right. Though there are thousands of psychiatric hospitals, facilities, and units across the United States, there are now less than FIVE equipped to treat the nuanced, highly specialized needs of survivors with Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders.
That's right. Though there are thousands of psychiatric hospitals, facilities, and units across the United States, there are now less than FIVE equipped to treat the nuanced, highly specialized needs of survivors with Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders.
May 18, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Scratch that - make it less than 5.
That's right. Though there are thousands of psychiatric hospitals, facilities, and units across the United States, there are now less than FIVE equipped to treat the nuanced, highly specialized needs of survivors with Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders.
That's right. Though there are thousands of psychiatric hospitals, facilities, and units across the United States, there are now less than FIVE equipped to treat the nuanced, highly specialized needs of survivors with Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders.
👟CALLING ALL SURVIVORS, THERAPISTS, SUPPORTERS, WALKERS, ATHLETES, AND GENERAL GOOD HUMANS™!👟
If you've ever wanted to take part in one of our community events or fundraisers, but aren't local to us, this one's for you!!
If you've ever wanted to take part in one of our community events or fundraisers, but aren't local to us, this one's for you!!
May 16, 2025 at 3:31 AM
👟CALLING ALL SURVIVORS, THERAPISTS, SUPPORTERS, WALKERS, ATHLETES, AND GENERAL GOOD HUMANS™!👟
If you've ever wanted to take part in one of our community events or fundraisers, but aren't local to us, this one's for you!!
If you've ever wanted to take part in one of our community events or fundraisers, but aren't local to us, this one's for you!!
Nearly across the board, universally, survivors describe feeling stained, tainted, or robbed post-assault. These sentiments are all too often echoed by outsiders deeming them much the same.
...reverberations coming from their churches, families, future partners, best friends, or strangers online.
...reverberations coming from their churches, families, future partners, best friends, or strangers online.
May 8, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Nearly across the board, universally, survivors describe feeling stained, tainted, or robbed post-assault. These sentiments are all too often echoed by outsiders deeming them much the same.
...reverberations coming from their churches, families, future partners, best friends, or strangers online.
...reverberations coming from their churches, families, future partners, best friends, or strangers online.