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Starting Your Journey through Survival to Healing
Disclaimer
This is a starting point. I am using my combined experiences of a retired paralegal, genealogist, former private investigator, and the help of a child to adult trafficking survivor, to bring much needed information and resources to other survivors. We do our best to offer trauma-informed resources and to keep them updated as we receive additional information from others.
Our overall goal is to attempt to irradicate human trafficking through awareness and, eventually changes in legislation to create REAL impacts for predators. No more plea deals. Financial reparations and minimum life sentences. More if they were trusted members of the community, such as law enforcement or children's services.
Children who have been trafficked their entire lives face a unique and profound set of challenges because their exploitation occurs during critical windows of brain development.
When a person’s baseline "normal" is a state of exploitation, the paths to escape and recovery are often non-linear and deeply complex.
While I am not, and do not claim to be a medical, psychological, or legal expert, I have many years of experience and have done a great deal of research in an attempt to provide trauma-informed guidance to survivors and their families.
I recommend you review these materials in small doses, as completing them can be triggering and induce memories to be recalled. Preplanned self-care is imperative!
Consider downloading the “My Journey Journal” which is a starting point, and then, when you move into the next phase of tackling the questionnaires, you can continue to use your Journal to write down anything that comes up for you as you move forward.
Survey 1 - About You
TRIGGER WARNING!
THIS SURVEY WILL ASK PERSON QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU - AND YOUR BACKGROUND
- We recommend you do these surveys one at a a time.
- Make sure you rest, eat well beforehand, and take time to process and decompress after each survey.
- If anything comes up for you, like memories or emotions, remember to use your "My Journey Journal" to write the information down - or just use a blank piece of paper if needed.
- Please let us know if any parts of the form don't work or if there are things we should add.
Survey 2 - Chemical Tactics
TRIGGER WARNING!
THIS SURVEY WILL ASK PERSONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT CHEMICAL TACTICS USED TO SUBDUE YOU
- We recommend you do these surveys one at a a time.
- Make sure you rest, eat well beforehand, and take time to process and decompress after each survey.
- If anything comes up for you, like memories or emotions, remember to use your "My Journey Journal" to write the information down - or just use a blank piece of paper if needed.
- Please let us know if any parts of the form don't work or if there are things we should add.
Survey 3 - Psychological Tactics
TRIGGER WARNING!
THIS SURVEY WILL ASK PERSONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL TACTICS USED TO SUBDUE YOU
- We recommend you do these surveys one at a a time.
- Make sure you rest, eat well beforehand, and take time to process and decompress after each survey.
- If anything comes up for you, like memories or emotions, remember to use your "My Journey Journal" to write the information down - or just use a blank piece of paper if needed.
- Please let us know if any parts of the form don't work or if there are things we should add.
Survey 4 - Physical Tactics
TRIGGER WARNING!
THIS SURVEY WILL ASK PERSONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT PHYSICAL TACTICS USED TO KEEP YOU CAPTIVE
- We recommend you do these surveys one at a a time.
- Make sure you rest, eat well beforehand, and take time to process and decompress after each survey.
- If anything comes up for you, like memories or emotions, remember to use your "My Journey Journal" to write the information down - or just use a blank piece of paper if needed.
- Please let us know if any parts of the form don't work or if there are things we should add.
Survey 5 - Sexual Tactics
HIGH TRIGGER WARNING!
THIS SURVEY WILL ASK PERSONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT SEXUAL TACTICS USED TO KEEP YOU CAPTIVE
- We recommend you do these surveys one at a a time.
- Make sure you rest, eat well beforehand, and take time to process and decompress after each survey.
- If anything comes up for you, like memories or emotions, remember to use your "My Journey Journal" to write the information down - or just use a blank piece of paper if needed.
- Please let us know if any parts of the form don't work or if there are things we should add.
Legal Resources
Legal Resources
Statue of Limitations
Legal Resources
Knowing who to trust can be difficult after surviving what you have been through. Here are some resources that may help with legal issues that may have occurred as a result of your circumstances.
You may be able to obtain legal services through The Human Trafficking Legal Center
Age of Consent
Statue of Limitations
Legal Resources
The U.S. Federal age of consent is 16.
But different states can have different laws.
Depending on which state you were in, you may have been UNDER the legal age of consent.
Check this site to find out more.
Statue of Limitations
Statue of Limitations
Statue of Limitations
A Statute of Limitations is a legal term that varies by state, case type, and whether it is a civil or criminal case - it could be both.
Normally, a statute of limitations begins to run on the date when the offense is completed.
Laws change constantly - don't give up!
Criminal History Trap
UN Human Trafficking Info
Statue of Limitations
We know you may have been coerced into doing things that may have been illegal or things have been applied to your record when you did not willingly participate. Here's where to find resources to start fixing that history.
Locating Sex Offenders
UN Human Trafficking Info
UN Human Trafficking Info
We understand in some cases, you may not know who your offenders were. We do recommend checking various state sex offender registration sites to see if anyone comes up so you can at least identify them.
UN Human Trafficking Info
UN Human Trafficking Info
UN Human Trafficking Info
This may be an excellent resource for information on Human Trafficking and they have contact information as well.
Financial Resources
Financial Resources
Credit Repair Resources
Credit Repair Resources
We have learned that your identity may have been stolen, manipulated, or used to obtain loans or credit in your name, and without your knowledge or consent.
Credit Repair Resources
Credit Repair Resources
Credit Repair Resources
We have come to realize fixing your credit history may be challenging. We are adding as much information here as possible to help you get your credit history repaired.
ID Theft Resources
Credit Repair Resources
ID Theft Resources
We know proving, and sometimes even knowing your own identity can be difficult. We will continue to add resources as we find them to help you recover your true identity - or to change to one that feels safe for you.
Health Resources
Medical Imaging
Medical and Dental Imaging could be a way to provide evidence about things that happened to you in the past. X-Rays can provide hidden clues to old trauma to bones and teeth. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can look at muscles and soft tissue for scarring. A full physical exam can help document physical scars , marks and other features on your skin.
211.org is available to help connect you with possible healthcare resources, including counseling and for substance abuse as well.
Mental Health Resources
- Psychotherapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address stress factors. EMDR has been very affective for some.
- Lifestyle Modification: Regular exercise and proper sleep hygiene.
- Relaxation Techniques: Deep breathing exercises, yoga, and mindfulness to calm the nervous system.
- Medication/Supplements: In some cases, antidepressants, tranquilizers, or herbal remedies like St. John’s wort and valerian are used.
Informative Substance Resources
Drug Toxicology
Pill Identification
Pill Identification
The presence of involuntarily consumed medications and drugs of abuse is demonstrated by routine toxicological analysis.
GHB - detectable in blood for up to 8 hours, in urine for up to 12 hours
Some drugs may be detected in hair follicles up to 4 weeks after ingestion.
Pill Identification
Pill Identification
Pill Identification
Drugs come in all sorts of colors, shapes and sizes.
This link may help you recall types of drugs or medications you were exposed to through a visual interface.
Forced Drug Application
Drug Interaction Checker
Drug Interaction Checker
Criminals use drugs to facilitate sexual assault with the intention of producing the following effects:
- sedation and the induction of sleep
- alteration of the victim’s behavior
- antegrade amnesia
- the creation of a helpless state that the criminal can deliberately exploit.
There is a 30-60 day window from ingestion or exposure depending on the method.
Drug Interaction Checker
Drug Interaction Checker
Drug Interaction Checker
Here's where you can check to see if any medications you take or were given may have (had) serious interactions.
Notify your physician if you become aware of any significant interactions that may have impacted your health.
DNA & Genealogy
DNA Testing
Genealogy - Family Trees
Genealogy - Family Trees
Here's where to purchase DNA testing kits.
Around the holidays they usually have deep discounts. You do not need to be a member of Ancestry.com to purchase a DNA kit.
23andMe DNA kits are more comprehensive as they include medical information that may be helpful as you get older.
Genealogy - Family Trees
Genealogy - Family Trees
Genealogy - Family Trees
Family trees may seem like an odd connection, but having someone who is skilled a building a family tree may be able to access historical legal documents, such as census records, birth certificates, social security information and locations where someone has lived that may help you map out where you have been.
Genetic Genealogy
Genealogy - Family Trees
Genetic Genealogy
Advances in forensic science have made it so they can now use someone's DNA to create an artistic rendering of an OFFENDER.
If you have any preserved DNA, or have had a kit taken at a hospital in the past, they may be able to retest it and create a profile of the person who the DNA belongs to. They may also be able to find their family members.
Meditation & Relaxation
