Episode 14: Through the eyes of a Midwife

CIS’ters provides emotional support for females, age 18+ who, as female children, were sexually abused within a family environment. Raising funds, we find, is often difficult as many members of the public feel empathy towards child victims but this doesn’t always extend to adult survivors. In 2019 we were chosen by https://www.bizpedia.com/ to be their 2020 charity and the pandemic made that impossible. In 2022 they unquestionably honoured their promise to us and during a one day event they held in July 2022, managed to raise an unbelievable £34k for us. Even they were shocked at the amount.  Listen to this podcast to find out more, and how we are using their amazing gift.  
www.cisters.org.uk 

CIS'ters provides emotional support for females age 18+ who, as female children, were sexually abused within a family environment.
Within this podcast we explore the topic around the sensitivity needed, in raising public awareness of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence. We discuss the importance of this topic and how it has changed over the years.  
We take part in the National Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness WEEK – which in 2023 is 6th – 12th February. To find out more about this important campaign, please click on the link below. – 
https://sexualabuseandsexualviolenceawarenessweek.org       
www.cisters.org.uk we also deliver training for professionals.

CIS'ters provides emotional support for females age 18+ who, as female children, were sexually abused within a family environment.

Within this podcast we explore the topic of self-help materials, such as journals, which many adult survivors use as part of their ongoing journey and a reminder to be mindful of issues such as confidentiality.

Information is on our website www.cisters.org.uk we also deliver training for professionals.

Introducing Kate Davies CBE talking about the importance of NHS England to victims or survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Podcast covers specific prevention and response strategy including input from CIS’ters. Featuring CIS’ters trustees Eileen and Gillian. For more information about NHSE go to https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/strategic-direction-for-sexual-assault-and-abuse-services/

Within CIS'ters, as survivors, we know that many victim/survivors of sexual crimes experience heightened fear and anxiety when accessing midwifery services. In this podcast Kathryn Gutteridge, a past president of the Royal College of Midwives, shares with us how we can help midwives to help us as victims of sexual abuse accessing services and also, importantly, how her own personal insights have assisted in her practice as a midwife and also raising awareness.
For further information please see: https://cisters.org.uk/the-impact/pregnancy-birth-gynaecological-and-obstetric-issues/

When you are finding life heavy going, it can be a good idea to put together a play list of uplifting music. 

In years past, this may have been on a CD. But all sorts of technology can be brought in here, from smart speakers to phones, spotify through to amazon music.

Everyone has different tastes in music, but for this sort of of activity you need to find music that has a purposeful beat and meaningful words. 

This episode introduces the listener to the concept of warrior music to help survivors of sexual abuse, but also anyone who has experienced trauma. 

Loss is a concept explored with the different perspective of the survivor of sexual abuse in mind.

Clever insight into the experiences of loss, the differing circumstances and ways forward are discussed. 

If you would like to know more, please see our website: www.cisters.org.uk

The Window of Tolerance is a idea developed by Dan Siegal. He suggested we all have 3 key states. 

There is the optimum layer, where you are able to exert self control and everything is manageable. This is the like the middle layer of a sandwich. 

The top of the sandwich is where you are very hyped up, buzzing, out of control. The lower layer is where you feel zoned out, withdrawn maybe numb.

If you have a large optimum layer you cope better in life and do not easily zoom into the over stimulated layer or fall through into the zoned out layer. 

This podcast explains the WOT in detail and ways of increasing your optimum layer.

Episode 28 – Adverse Childhood Experiences

This podcast explores the issue of ACEs and how important it is to build resilience in children and adult survivors.  Plus signpost https://cisters.org.uk/the-impact/adverse-childhood-experiences-ace/ - but our key message is that no one should be stigmatised by the number of ACEs they have experienced as a child. The focus is on how resilient individuals are, or can be helped to be.  Some adult survivors are incredibly resilient and others less so – understanding how to improve resilience is the focus, as children and as adults. Our next podcast is on something called The Window Of Tolerance and these two episodes are linked.

In this podcast we reflect on the difference between recovery and resilience, the latter being a more tangible target. The topic includes aspects of trauma and the impact on emotional well-being including suicidal thoughts and also on physical well-ness.  The masks that many victim/survivors wear can create barriers to receiving help, not least because resilience as a presentation can be misleading.  If you are in a dark place emotionally and not sure that you can continue please contact either the Samaritans and/or your GP. You are not alone.