It literally doesn’t matter what the intention of abuser was, it isn’t relevant, what should be looked at is consequences the victim has to carry, the psychological damage they have to live with, the emotional pain, the fear, the self consciousness, the disorders, the trauma, look at how much they lost, how much they missed out on, how much they suffered because of what happened to them, how ashamed and anxious and isolated they’ve been, everything they didn’t get to experience and enjoy because of the trauma, everything that’s missing from their life because of what was done to them, and then let’s look at the benefits the abuser had from destroying the victim, the control and authority they established, how they used the fear and the pain to control the victim, how much satisfaction they got from feeling superior and powerful and self-righteous, and that’s all you have to know, a person destroyed another for gain, what other intentions do you fucking need, nobody does this without meaning to.
I always get asked if I’m pro-choice. And I say yes. Then I get asked if I would ever have an abortion and again I say yes. And people are usually shocked by how open I am about it. But I am a children’s advocate. I’ve seen kids whose parents have had them too young. I’ve seen kids who are in foster care and children’s homes because of neglect and abuse. I’ve seen teen moms struggle and single dad’s. If I am not financially stable, mentally stable, or emotionally stable. I should not and I will not have children. I believe in the morning after pill, condoms, pulling out, and birth control. I can tell you when I am ovulating and can get pregnant and when I am not.
I am responsible. I am prepared. And if I were to get pregnant I am pro-choice.
Person: Why are you gay? Me: Why are you straight?
In case you thought only the CDC’s practices were questionable/criminal…
Earlier this May, the Associated Press reported that National Institutes of Health researchers tested AIDS drugs on hundreds of foster children in the late 1980s and ‘90s. In many instances, the drugs were given without independent advocates who monitor the safety of these children. Ed Gordon explores the controversy with two AIDS experts: Dr. Jonathan Fishbein of the National Institutes of Health and Baylor College of Medicine’s Dr. Mark Kline.
My aunt put her child up for adoption. Her stance was basically to let her have a chance at a happy life even though she herself couldn't give it to her. I don't think there's anything wrong with that at all.
I mean good for her, but you do realize that we have an issue of not enough kids being adopted. So they end up in the foster care system.
- Mod S.
I work in an ER and we see suicides all the time. And we get at least 3 suicidal ideations a night. We all care about you. I promise, we do. A team of complete strangers who have worked 3+ 12 hour shifts this week who are being screamed at all day and night and probably haven’t had lunch and trust me, we still love you and care about you.
We had a 16 year old patient last night who we couldn’t save. We were in that room with this patient for over an hour, we did everything we could. And let me tell you, we all cried. The EMT’s, the nurses, the doctor. We all huddled together in the doctors dictation room and cried.
I went through the rest of my shift with smudged mascara and tracks on my cheeks.
I remember the names of all the patients that have taken their lives on my shifts.
I remember squeezing the hands, smoothing the hair, kissing the foreheads, and wiping away the blood and the vomit of every patient that has left me too soon.
I can still see every face that I have zipped into a body bag.
Trust me, someone cares about you. You have never met them yet. You don’t ever think about them. They are never remembered when you talk about heroes and role models.
But someone loves you.
“Maybe I want to keep running away.” “Fine. Then run. Keep running. Run until you think you’ve escaped all this. But the moment you stop, the moment you settle, the moment you start to fall in love again, everything you’ve done and everyone you’ve hurt? It will all catch up to you. I can promise you that.
from an unfinished story #439 (via thoughts-into-ink)
“Just because someone used to be an important part of your life doesn’t mean you have to continue to cling to the friendship when it begins to die. Your relationship was once something beautiful and fulfilling, and that’s a wonderful thing. But at a certain point, no amount of watering and nurturing will bring it back to full bloom. The fact that its deteriorated doesn’t mean you’re incapable of sustaining meaningful friendships. It doesn’t mean you’re not worth the time and effort it takes to maintain a connection. And it isn’t any sort of evidence that you’re a burden or a bad friend. It just means that the relationship has run its course. It means that you’ve evolved into different people or moved apart or just lost each other in the clutter and preoccupation of life’s everyday demands. But it isn’t a reflection on your value as a person and friend.It’s okay to mourn the loss of a relationship that used to have a special place in your heart. But if keeping yourself tethered to this person is causing more damage than healthy detachment and ongoing growth, it’s also okay to stop watering the friendship and let it die out. You don’t have to sacrifice your wellbeing for the sake of maintaining a relationship that doesn’t serve you anymore. You’re allowed to be picky when it comes to the people you let into your mental and physical space. You’re allowed to conserve your time and energy only for people who reciprocate. Because you deserve to feel seen and heard and cared for. You deserve relationships that make you feel fulfilled and connected. And no matter how long of a history you have with a person, you deserve to let go of any friendship that hurts you and forces you to prove your worth.”
Daniell Koepke (via internal-acceptance-movement)