The Thread That Wouldn't Break – An Exploration of Healing with Ruth Carroll

What happens after you survive? For much of Ruth Carroll’s life, survival was simply part of everyday existence. Childhood sexual abuse, an abduction at knifepoint and an abusive marriage shaped not only what Ruth experienced, but the way she understood love, trust and safety. But getting out was only the beginning. In this deeply personal conversation, Ruth joins Shannon from New Jersey to talk about what came afterwards — the years of unlearning, therapy, faith, triggers, relationships and slowly teaching a mind shaped by trauma that it was finally safe. We talk about the little church Ruth found as a child and the prayer she returned to during one of the most terrifying nights of her life. We explore generational trauma, the choices people make when they're living in survival mode, and why being loved safely can sometimes feel frightening when safety is something you've never really known. Ruth also shares how photography taught her to find peace in the middle of a storm, how writing became a way to reach other survivors, and why she no longer sees herself as broken. This isn't an episode about finding a silver lining in trauma or pretending everything happens for a reason. It's about what we choose to build afterwards. Continue the Story There is much more to Ruth's story than we could fit into one episode description. Head to the Episode 66 show notes on the If These Trees Could Talk website to read more about Ruth, discover her books, find links to follow her work, and read Shannon's personal reflection on what stayed with her after the conversation. You'll also find support and further resources for anyone who may recognise parts of their own story in Ruth's. Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of childhood sexual abuse, domestic and family violence, sexual violence, attempted abduction, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Please take care while listening.    Shownotes https://sites.google.com/view/ifthesetreescouldtalk/episode-66-the-thread-that-wouldnt-break-an-exploration-of-he