Blogs

We were recently interviewed by the Dartmouth newspaper about our plans for expansion in the fall. After many months of planning and fine-tuning, our peer support network has developed into a generational and customizable grassroots model that we believe will benefit student survivors at many campuses.

After much thought and deliberation, we're changing up our style. From here on out, DartHeart's blog will be comprised of four separate views on trauma recovery and survivor issues. We selected ancient Greek names for three of our blog topics to reflect the long history of trauma, and by connecting a pseudonym to a blog topic, we aim to focus the reader's attention (that means you!) on the significance of the message we collectively wish to convey rather than on individual survivor authors.

Wear a DartHeart designed tee

and show your support!

We're happy to announce we have new t-shirts for sale. We also have a snazzy tote bag with our logo in the corner.

The proceeds of each purchase help us reach our goals of improving and expanding our support network for students with post traumatic stress.

As some of you may know, this past fall we held an event at the Hood Museum which highlighted visual artwork by survivors of violence. We’re happy to announce that this month we will host another event as part of our Survivor Art Series to showcase creative writing by our members and other survivors.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Ann Gonzalez, author, teacher, and survivor of trauma, about her latest book Running for My Life.

I usually avoid fictionalized rape stories.  A movie, a show, a play, any sort of performed or written narrative meant to dramatize the emotions of the rape victim or "reveal a message" about rape and its consequences/influences.  I'm more tolerant of personal narratives and writings by actual rape victims, but I've just seen so many helpless-looking young ingénues with mascara streaming down their faces alternate between hysterical tears and stoic silences peppered with angry bursts of "don't touch me!" and frankly, I don't believe them. 

We've had some interest lately in guest blogging. I wanted to let you know that we're totally open to it, just sign up for an account and send us your blog posting for review. Usually anything relevant to survivors is acceptable. Once it's approved (we like our grammar neat), we'll update your account with blogger privileges and you can post it.

So send us your submissions!

It's a funny thing, this business of providing services for survivors. On the one hand, we hope we hear from lots of people who will brave their public and private concerns to announce to us and more importantly themselves, that here I am, I exist, and I need help. On the other hand, I'd like to work myself out of a job. I hope to hear from survivors and at the same time wish there was no violence and subsequently no survivors to help.

In the long term, after trauma, it is easy to lapse into a negative attitude. Recovery is a long process and can certainly be frustrating. To me, everything seemed to be taking too long. After a year, I still felt the impact of the trauma on my ability to focus. I didn't understand why I was still having to deal with stress responses to my triggers. It was and still is frustrating that I feel like I've made huge strides in recovery, but I still feel as though I'm not back to "normal".

I am one of the board members of DartHeart, a nonprofit organization started by a group of Dartmouth students in the fall of 2007. We provide individual advocacy, support groups, and access to our network of resources for students dealing with post traumatic stress while in college. Currently our efforts are focused on working with sexual assault and domestic violence survivors and veterans.