November Blog
(started Nov. 2021, finished and posted Mar. 2022)
October was “Domestic Violence Awareness month”, but at the time, I wanted to share with you what I was doing in as far as speaking and sharing my healing story – which is very much related to my healing from domestic violence: as a child, a teen and a young adult. So, I shared a vlog in October of my 5-Step Healing Formula for how I was able to make a “COMEBACK” from domestic violence and many other types of trauma.However, this month, in support of October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I want to share with you a written and audio *excerpt from my book: Life Launch, Book One – Surviving the Storms of Physical and Sexual Abuse:
I grew up in a terrorist training camp…..
In my 29th year of life, I went inpatient to the Caron Foundation, in Pennsylvania, for a week long program for Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families (ACDF). These Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families (ACDF). would be people who were raised in a “dysfunctional” environment and became adults who suffer many of the same outcomes as the Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA).
So, the dysfunction in the home doesn’t have to be addiction, it can be any type of dysfunction, because it has been shown that children raised in these homes tend to malfunction as adults and there are effective therapies to help all of these “adult children.”
While I was there, one of the counselors told his story and the first words of his story brought me to my knees because I knew exactly what he was talking about. I could identify:
He said, “Hi. My name is Ray, I’m an addict, and I was raised in a terrorist training camp.”
From that point, he proceeded to describe my childhood.
Perhaps the term “terrorist training camp” seems a bit extreme. This is not literal in any sense of the term, think of it as a backdrop for a play which is going to include guerilla-warfare-like fighting, backstabbing,
death, violence, verbal, physical and emotional abuse, hateful speech and not having the means to escape.
This is my story of being raised in such an environment and how I survived.
AND Click PLAY below for the Audio version:
I hope you enjoyed my excerpt! If you are interested in purchasing my book or in receiving a coupon for a Review copy of my Audiobook to download for free in exchange for leaving a review, please see * below.
Now, back to November 2021 – the reason I am posting this blog so late is because of what happened just before Thanksgiving, and then immediately after New Year’s Day…three traumatic events in my life:
First, I had a cancer scare: my doctor found a giant cyst on my liver that qualified for surgery, plus several other smaller cysts; and there was something concerning seen on a scan of my lungs… I will share more about this journey in my December and January blogs.
Second, my beautiful, miniature poodle, named JohnBoy, was attacked and killed right in front of my eyes, by a friend’s two German Shepherds. I am still traumatized with visions of his eyes and voice crying out to me in pain, and I was helpless to do anything for him, except hold him and cry, as he took his last breaths and his life slipped from his eyes.
You may recall from my March 2021 blog that I lost my other mini-poo, named Clifford, last March, so losing them BOTH in a matter of 8 months has been very difficult. Here are some pics and a video of them kissing to celebrate JohnBoy’s and Clifford’s lives:
Third, I was dumped by my boyfriend on January 3rd, by text message! (after he spent the holiday weekend with me and my son and said no words on the matter) He refused to speak with me in person, face-to-face about it, and after a week of my texting him and begging him to please speak with me face-to-face about it, he texted me: “Please stop texting and calling me…”
Now, this was not just a boyfriend – he was an “all but the ring” fiancee. We had been seeing each other since late Dec. 2020, and in October 2021, we had signed contracts to purchase a home together, and to list each of our individual homes for sale, in anticipation of getting engaged, moving in together and blending our families (4 adult kids between us and he had grandchildren). We had also recently looked at both engagement and wedding rings online. We had already picked out the “perfect place” and the date for our wedding….so……to be blindsided by the inhumane way he exited our relationship and my life was nothing short of cruel….
Please stay tuned for more on how I dealt with these three major life upheavals and more in my December 2021 – March 2022 blog updates, and finally for April 2022’s blog: Springing Forward and Blazing a New Trail!!!
*If this excerpt from my book intrigues you, please click HERE (“Dr. Liz’ books” tab), or click on any of the links for my book throughout this website. If you are interested in receiving a coupon for a Review copy of my Audiobook to download for free in exchange for leaving a review, please click on the “Contact Dr. Liz” link or tab on this website and request one.
If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
My person message and commitment to you:
Since writing and publishing this book – Life Launch! Book One, I have committed to helping others work through their life’s traumas, by sharing my experience, strength and hope of how I launched my life out of mine – by speaking on podcasts & stages; through my website; this blog/vlog; and on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.
I also committed to donate 15% of the royalties from my Life Launch series of books, and 15% of the proceeds from the sales of related educational and healing resources available for you at my Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute – www.mbshealinginstitute.com
These donations will go to a 501c3 charitable organization I founded, that I hope will have a global reach: “The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention”, in honor and memory of my late husband who died by suicide.
I welcome you to join me in supporting mental health care and making inroads towards lowering the rate of suicide completion, by supporting my work and this Foundation.
To make a donation, send to: paypal.me/drlizlifelaunch and write “Charitable Donation” or “The BJD ROH Foundation” in the description.
Your donation is tax deductible and I will send you a receipt you can use for your taxes.
More will be revealed,
Dr. Liz
