Mindfulness for Survivors of Abuse: A Gentle Path Back to Yourself
For many survivors of abuse, the word mindfulness can feel confusing—or even threatening. You may have heard phrases like “just breathe,” “stay present,” or “let it go,” offered casually by people who don’t understand what it’s like to live with a nervous system shaped by trauma. If abuse taught you anything, it was how to survive by being hyperaware, disconnected, frozen, or constantly on guard. Being “present” may not feel safe at all.