St Croix Valley Betrayal Trauma Support Group

12/20/2022

Tonight is our last meeting of 2022! Join us and get set up to have the support you need in 2023 :)

12/07/2022

The ideas and stories in this book are a great perspective on getting through the grief and heartbreak that betrayal trauma heaps on you. I highly recommend picking it up at your local library or purchasing it for yourself. The author, Katherine May, shares some of her own life experiences and beautifully weaves in the idea of wintering: what you can do to prepare to rest and heal during difficult times, just as nature prepares for the long, cold winter through all the other seasons.

12/06/2022

We'll see you all tonight!

11/22/2022

Don't forget to join us at our meeting tonight and get a boost of support to carry you through Thanksgiving! 6PM at the River Falls Public Library :)

11/22/2022

Maybe you're familiar with panic attacks, or maybe you will have your first one during this high-stress season, but either way, knowing when you are experiencing one and having a plan can make a big difference. Though panic attacks can be scary, remembering that all the physical symptoms you're experiencing are there to protect you (and that there may not actually be anything to protect you from at the moment) can help calm the nervous system more quickly. Even talking yourself through why you are having these symptoms can help your prefrontal cortex, the rational or "thinking" part of your brain, start engaging again, possibly pulling you out of your fight/flight/freeze/fawn response. "I am dizzy because the blood is going to my limbs in order to help me physically get away" or "My breathing has sped up in response to adrenaline, which is designed to help move me away from danger" are both great examples.

Panic attacks are characterized by physical and mental indicators like shaking, sweating, and more. Learn about the symptoms and ways to manage them.

11/21/2022

It is very common to experience elevated or new anxiety after learning about betrayal or when living with an addict. The unpredictability and lack of safety in your environment causes your brain to do whatever it needs to do to protect itself. This can include going over events repeatedly to determine what is true, panic attacks, headaches, lack of appetite, poor sleep, withdrawing from people & things you once enjoyed, and the inability to function in your job or in daily life. It can truly be all consuming. Be kind to yourself and don't rush as you sort through the pieces of what was done to you, and find others who will compassionately stand by you while you go through that process.

11/21/2022

Let's talk about SAFETY in a relationship! We often hear about the need for physical safety, but did you know you also need to feel emotionally, psychologically, and s*xually safe in a relationship? Being in a relationship with a p**n or s*x addict (whether you are aware of the addiction or not) threatens all 3 of these. Addicts often lie, gaslight, blame shift, and guilt trip (among other tactics) and their partners always suffer the consequences one way or another. Maybe you begin to doubt what you know to be true. Maybe you question your self-worth. Undoubtedly you are unable to figure out what is real and fake, at least for a time. The manipulation partners suffer is intense and real. Be sure to find people you trust to talk through what is going on in our life so that you can regain your inner sense of stability and reality. Don't allow the lack of safety in your relationship to continue to rob you of peace

11/18/2022

When you are the partner or loved one of a p**n or s*x addict, the idea of healing comes up a LOT. Others will tell you "you need to heal!" Many will not even understand what there is to heal from-"What's the big deal?" Maybe this voice is loudest from your partner...and maybe the loudest voice is even yourself.

11/17/2022

Why the need for a betrayal trauma support group? When someone is betrayed by a person who is supposed to care for, protect, or provide the means of survival for them, their whole world turns upside down. They may suffer from panic attacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts & flashbacks, sleep trouble, nausea, loss of trust in self & others, withdrawing from activities & people they formerly enjoyed, and unusually intense emotions. Sorting through the wreckage takes time & understanding from others. Join us every other week to get the support you need & deserve from people who have been there.

10/25/2022

Our meeting is tonight at the River Falls Public Library at 6pm! Please join us!