In Versailles, Missouri, a neighboring community to ours, Johnetta Yeager was shot and killed by her abuser. She was in the process of seeking protection, filing for an ex-parte order, and preparing harassment charges. She was doing what survivors are told to do: speak up, use the system, fight for her safety. Yet before that process could protect her, her life was taken.
This was not an accident. This was not unpredictable. This was the outcome of a system that too often responds slowly,...
Your story is more powerful than you realize.
It isn’t merely a record of what you endured; it is proof of what you overcame. It holds every night you thought you would break, but endured. Every tear you wiped away before standing again. Every step you took when strength had already been spent.
Somewhere, a single mother feels herself unraveling. Exhaustion crushes her, solitude haunts her, and she wonders if there is any reason to go on. She doesn’t need another lecture. She needs hope. She...
Silence is not neutral. It does not sit in the middle, waiting to be weighed or measured. Silence always tips the scale in favor of the abuser. Every time a survivor is pressured to stay quiet, every time their voice is dismissed or doubted, the abuser gains more power. They thrive in the shadows of secrecy, while the survivor is left carrying both the weight of the abuse and the burden of silence.
Silence is the Abuser’s Shield
Abusers rely on secrecy to maintain control. When survivors remain...
Recently, something happened in my author journey that I never expected to deal with so early in my career. A beta reader—someone I trusted with an early version of one of my books. ..leaked part of a scene online. That post eventually found its way to Reddit, and then TikTok, where it started gaining traction. At first, I thought, “Okay… maybe this isn’t a bad thing. Maybe it’s just free publicity.” But then I found out that people were writing their own stories based on that scene. Stories...
In a world where we often feel isolated, sharing our stories can be a powerful tool for healing. Imagine a room filled with people, each carrying their own burdens. As one person begins to share their story, a ripple effect occurs, creating connections and fostering understanding. This is the transformative power of storytelling.
Sharing stories allows individuals to process their experiences, making sense of complex emotions and events. As one storyteller puts it, "When I share my story, I...
In the journey of personal healing, the dynamics of family relationships often play a pivotal role. Imagine a tightrope walker, balancing carefully between self-care and familial bonds. This delicate act requires understanding, patience, and communication.
Personal healing is a deeply individual process. It involves acknowledging past wounds, seeking therapy, or engaging in self-reflection. As one embarks on this path, it's crucial to set boundaries and communicate needs to family members. As...
Welcome back to The Healing Hollow. If you’ve ever looked back on a moment of fear and wondered, “Why didn’t I do something?”
this post is for you.
Trauma responses are not choices. They’re instinctive survival strategies wired into the nervous system. In our latest episode of The Healing Hollow, we explore the four core trauma responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn, and how they often appear in everyday life.
The Four Core Trauma Responses
Fight- Fight isn’t always about physical...
Hello Beautiful People. I’m so glad you found your way here.
The Healing Hollow is a quiet corner of the internet I created for anyone who is seeking peace, connection, and a reminder that healing is possible. This space is part blog, part podcast, part journal; a safe little hollow where stories, reflections, and resources can take root.
For so long, I’ve been carrying stories. Some of them are heavy, shaped by trauma, loss, and survival. Others are light and tender, filled with resilience,...