[Minisode] Healing Through Honesty: A Journey of Overcoming Subtle Abuse and Reclaiming Self-Worth
Release Date: 11/26/2025
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[Minisode] Healing Through Honesty: A Journey of Overcoming Subtle Abuse and Reclaiming Self-Worth
Brave Hearts Speak
In this mini episode of “Brave Hearts Speak”, host Lucia Severtson shares a personal story of emotional abuse and boundary violations by people she once considered family. She reflects on the subtle forms of harm, the importance of everyday bravery, and the healing power of speaking one’s truth. The episode also highlights resources for support, including a guided meditation and the Headway platform for accessible mental health care. Lucia encourages listeners to recognize their own bravery, reject shame, and join a supportive community dedicated to healing and empowerment. ...
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info_outlineIn this mini episode of “Brave Hearts Speak”, host Lucia Severtson shares a personal story of emotional abuse and boundary violations by people she once considered family. She reflects on the subtle forms of harm, the importance of everyday bravery, and the healing power of speaking one’s truth. The episode also highlights resources for support, including a guided meditation and the Headway platform for accessible mental health care. Lucia encourages listeners to recognize their own bravery, reject shame, and join a supportive community dedicated to healing and empowerment.
Timestamps
Dreams and Processing the Past (00:02:34) Describes recurring dreams about her abuser, the emotional impact, and the need to speak her truth for healing.
Living with the "Van Creeps" (00:05:13) Describes her living situation in Los Angeles with relatives, their attitudes, and family dynamics.
The Night of Boundary Violation (00:07:40) Details the incident of subtle abuse by a relative, her conditioned response, and the aftermath.
Isolation and Struggle in Los Angeles (00:12:19) Discusses her loneliness, lack of community, and continued association with the abusive relatives.
Cutting Ties and Family Symbolism (00:15:51) Describes leaving the relatives behind, her aunt’s symbolic actions, and the emotional impact.
Speaking Truth After Loss (00:17:03) Reflects on her aunt’s death, the importance of honesty, and rejecting the idea that death erases harm.
Reclaiming Bravery and Self-Worth (00:18:12) Emphasizes the importance of telling the truth, rejecting shame, and recognizing subtle abuse.
Three Takeaways on Bravery (00:19:29) Shares three key lessons: subtle abuse is real, silence is survival, and it’s never too late to tell your story.
Powerful Quotes from the Episode
'This is me finally touching something I buried for decades.'
'I’m not telling this out of revenge. I’m telling it because I didn’t know anger was allowed until only recently.'
'I am proud of my 21-year-old self, even though there’s a part of her inside me who still feels like a failure for not making it in Los Angeles.'
'Those people were never my people. That house was never my home. And everything I walked away from was meant to be left behind.'
'Death doesn’t rewrite history. Death doesn’t turn cruelty into kindness. And I will not pretend the wounds I carried came from a gentle place because she’s no longer here.'
'Truth has no expiration date. If the memory still lives in your body, your voice is still needed. Speaking now is liberation.'
RESOURCES:
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