Reminders of Resilience - Survivor Care Boxes
Donation protected
In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I would like to crowdfund a survivor-centered project, allowing me the financial freedom to send self-care boxes twice a year to survivors I have encountered on my journey. This project strives to create healing materials for survivors of sexual violence that are both accessible and free of charge. Inspired by my Etsy Surprise Self-Care Boxes, these boxes will be sent to a small network of 30 survivors I have had the privilege of personally connecting with, and will provide novel and unique materials catered to each individual. My hope is that I can raise enough funds to send boxes not only to the survivors I have developed personal relationships with but with the survivors I will encounter later on in my journey as a reminder of strength and community. The goal of $1500 will fund a year's worth of boxes to 30 survivors, hopefully giving me time until I can cover this expensive annually.
The Backstory
This project is vital in that it will serve to remind survivors that they are loved, cared for, worthy, and there is someone who is always thinking of their growth and healing. The need for a project such as this is apparent to anyone who is a survivor themselves, knows a survivor, or is aware of the myriad of ways sexual assault can affect survivors.
When I connect with survivors, I am often reminded of the years I spent battling my mind in an attempt to learn once again to love and appreciate my body and reframe my worth. I remember the countless anxiety attacks that lasted well into the night, keeping me from sleep when I needed it most. I remember the fear of entering public spaces and the wedge that was driven between my family, my friends, and myself. I also remember having difficulty communicating the thoughts and emotions that overwhelmed me, pushing me further into seclusion. As noted by the Mayo Clinic Proceedings [1], “A significant association was found between a history of sexual abuse and a lifetime diagnosis of anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, PTSD, sleep disorders, and suicide attempts.”
Healing only began when I established solidarity in a campus support group, where I met young adults enduring the aftermath of similar traumas. Within this space, I recognized the efficacy of communal spaces as catalysts for mental growth and well-being. I also learned to be aware of my own mental well-being and expressed my journey through art and graphic design. When I received a positive appraisal from my community with respect to the art I created, I acknowledged art’s unique capacity to move the heart, empower the soul, and revitalize the mind. I was driven by the fellowship that art could build, and I was pushed to further my pursuits. As an artist, I have found myself greatly influenced by listening to the mental health struggles of my community of sexual violence survivors. I am most inspired by the courage and resilience of survivors who face life amidst debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder, crippling anxiety, and recurrent depressive episodes.
In remembering the hardest years of my life, I am reminded of the light in my life today. That despite healing’s unreliable timeframe, healing is possible, especially with the support of survivors.
How You Can Contribute
- Email this campaign to family and friends who would like to contribute to this cause.
- Share this campaign via Facebook. You’ll never know who this project may resonate with.
- Share this campaign via Instagram to those who may find interest in this project.
- Donate to this campaign, RAINN.org, or your local resource centers for survivors of sexual violence. Anything you can contribute would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your consideration.
References: [1] Chen, Laura P et al. “Sexual abuse and lifetime diagnosis of psychiatric disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis.” Mayo Clinic proceedings vol. 85,7 (2010): 618-29. doi:10.4065/mcp.2009.0583
The Backstory
This project is vital in that it will serve to remind survivors that they are loved, cared for, worthy, and there is someone who is always thinking of their growth and healing. The need for a project such as this is apparent to anyone who is a survivor themselves, knows a survivor, or is aware of the myriad of ways sexual assault can affect survivors.
When I connect with survivors, I am often reminded of the years I spent battling my mind in an attempt to learn once again to love and appreciate my body and reframe my worth. I remember the countless anxiety attacks that lasted well into the night, keeping me from sleep when I needed it most. I remember the fear of entering public spaces and the wedge that was driven between my family, my friends, and myself. I also remember having difficulty communicating the thoughts and emotions that overwhelmed me, pushing me further into seclusion. As noted by the Mayo Clinic Proceedings [1], “A significant association was found between a history of sexual abuse and a lifetime diagnosis of anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, PTSD, sleep disorders, and suicide attempts.”
Healing only began when I established solidarity in a campus support group, where I met young adults enduring the aftermath of similar traumas. Within this space, I recognized the efficacy of communal spaces as catalysts for mental growth and well-being. I also learned to be aware of my own mental well-being and expressed my journey through art and graphic design. When I received a positive appraisal from my community with respect to the art I created, I acknowledged art’s unique capacity to move the heart, empower the soul, and revitalize the mind. I was driven by the fellowship that art could build, and I was pushed to further my pursuits. As an artist, I have found myself greatly influenced by listening to the mental health struggles of my community of sexual violence survivors. I am most inspired by the courage and resilience of survivors who face life amidst debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder, crippling anxiety, and recurrent depressive episodes.
In remembering the hardest years of my life, I am reminded of the light in my life today. That despite healing’s unreliable timeframe, healing is possible, especially with the support of survivors.
How You Can Contribute
- Email this campaign to family and friends who would like to contribute to this cause.
- Share this campaign via Facebook. You’ll never know who this project may resonate with.
- Share this campaign via Instagram to those who may find interest in this project.
- Donate to this campaign, RAINN.org, or your local resource centers for survivors of sexual violence. Anything you can contribute would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your consideration.
References: [1] Chen, Laura P et al. “Sexual abuse and lifetime diagnosis of psychiatric disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis.” Mayo Clinic proceedings vol. 85,7 (2010): 618-29. doi:10.4065/mcp.2009.0583
Organizer
Caylin Yorba-Ruiz
Organizer
Providence, RI
