April 2025

Welcome to the Redeem Thyself Journal’s first volume and first issue. It is hard to believe that I am now doing the work that I feel so very called to do. I have taken a big gamble in stepping away from full-time employment, selling my home, and putting all my time and effort into fulfilling what I believe is God’s calling.

First, I want to thank all of you for following my story, providing support and encouragement, and never placing doubt on my experiences with trauma and abuse. None of this is possible without you. I launched @redeem_thyself in July 2024 and we are already nearing 5000 followers while receiving more than 16K views each month. Juliemlane.com launched in September 2024, and the analytics are impressive. Last month, I launched @7_pedals, which shares my story as a professional and accomplished harpist in Southern California, the healing power of music, and the years music was absent from my life. It has a small following, but is growing by the day. 

What lies ahead: I am currently working on several projects. I need to invest time in my Facebook account. (See link below.) I want to start doing podcasts and reels for my IG accounts and finding ways to collaborate with followers. If any of these are of interest to you, please DM or email me. Let’s collaborate!!

Lastly, I would not be able to do any of this work without my younger daughter’s assistance. Her artistic and technological gifts as a photographer, graphic artist, administrative assistant, and best friend need to be acknowledged. She created my website, graphic designs, post images, reel content, etc. and fulfills my administrative needs. Love you babe! You are amazing! You can find Kimberly at Kimberly Lane Photography or @kimberlylanephotography.

Each month, Redeem Thyself highlights an Instagram Follower. The follower will eventually be selected based on engagement and collaboration during the previous month. However, in this initial edition of the Redeem Thyself Journal, and for those that follow throughout 2025, I need to recognize so many who have been so engaged in posts, DMs, collaborations, and stories since the IG launch in July 2024. For the month of April 2025, I would like to highlight the work of my IG follower and now friend Leah McSpadden and her organization Voice for the Silent.

Rising from Silence: Leah McSpadden’s Fight for Justice

Leah and I met on Zoom the first of the year to get to know one another. She is a survivor of human trafficking. While I am a survivor of sibling sexual abuse and spousal abuse, I easily found common ground with her. We have both survived traumatic and abusive situations for which we either had no control over or had not learned the skills to get out of or avoid the situation. Here is what Leah shared with me during our time together. Leah resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

“For survivors of human trafficking and abuse, justice often feels out of reach. As a survivor myself, I know firsthand the systemic barriers that silence victims. That’s why I founded Voice for the Silent —to create a movement that amplifies survivor voices, educates the public, and pushes for meaningful legal and policy change.

Through my work, I provide education, advocacy, and mentorship for survivors and allies alike. My organization focuses on human trafficking prevention, legal rights education, and survivor-led activism. From speaking engagements to online courses, I aim to equip people with the knowledge they need to identify, prevent, and combat exploitation.

Beyond advocacy, I am pursuing a career in law with a focus on human rights and survivor-centered legal reform. I work closely with legal professionals, law enforcement, and policymakers to bridge the gap between survivors and the justice system. My mission is simple: no survivor should feel alone in their fight for justice.

I also run a YouTube channel and social media platforms where I break down legal concepts, debunk myths about trafficking, and share survivor-focused educational content. Your voice matters—join me in making change happen. Together, we can turn silence into action.”

I enjoyed getting to know Leah and the work she is doing. Like many survivors who find their voice, she is giving back to the community and supporting others. I think what I appreciate most is that she is taking the time to fully educate herself on every aspect of human trafficking so that her voice can speak truths about what is happening and what needs to happen to stop this incredible injustice. 

Thank you for taking the time to Zoom with me Leah. I will keep you in thought and prayer as you continue your work. Please keep in touch ~

If you would like to learn more about Leah’s work, please visit her social media sites. She is eager to speak with you.

Website: www.voiceforthesilent.ca
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@leah_voiceforthesilent
Instagram: @voiceforthesilent.ca

Since this is the first issue of the Redeem Thyself Journal, I wanted to reflect a bit on what we know about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is a high level view from what I consider to be reputable Internet sites. In time, I want to be able to share recent research with you and places to go that can support you in your journey. 

At first I was amazed that 70% of individuals worldwide have experienced a traumatic event. And, then, after a moment of thought, that actually makes sense. Traumatic events include loss of a loved one, traffic accidents, natural disasters, war/conflict, witnessing a traumatic event, and so forth. These events are part of human life. Some are avoidable and some are just the result of being human. The World Health Organization (WHO) states 5.6% of those who have experienced a traumatic event will go on to develop PTSD and 40% of those individuals will recover from PTSD within one year. Yes, recover from PTSD. I have learned recovery is possible, and I am determined to recover as much as I can in the years that I have left. WHO goes on to state that only 1 in 4 people in low and middle income countries seek treatment. Living in the US, I know I have had opportunities that others may not. Yet, the struggle with stigma, false information on the Internet, and not speaking with a professional has left many with whom I engage with the idea that recovery is not possible.
But it is.

I grew up in an unsafe house. I had an older brother who was a bully, sexually assaulted me several times during my adolescence, and set a legacy of drugs, sex, and alcohol from which I had to break free during high school. My younger sister was not very kind. She still isn’t today. My last phone call with her was her telling me how awful I was as a sister and that I should never ask her to do anything for her ever again, and I should never ask her for anything either. My parents have passed on. My dad was a kind-hearted soul. My mother did not seem to have the ability to validate my feelings or thoughts. She questioned me consistently. My childhood was not safe.

The latest US national data on childhood abuse is from 2022. The National Children’s Alliance states 558,899 unique incidences of abuse and neglect are reported in the US each year. That means, eight out of every thousand children experience abuse. How many go undetected? 

Current information from the National PTSD Center states, “Studies show that about 15% to 43% of girls and 14% to 43% of boys go through at least one trauma. Of those children and teens who have had a trauma, 3% to 15% of girls and 1% to 6% of boys develop PTSD. Rates of PTSD are higher for certain types of trauma survivors.” PTSD is the result of 65% of children being neglected, 18% physically abused, 10% sexually abused, and 7% psychologically (mental) abused. For me, these numbers are staggering. The US is a first world country. And yet, as I watch the voices of people who lead our country and for those in influential positions, I ask myself: “Are they teaching kindness, compassion, understanding, patience, forgiveness, and love?”

As a result of my childhood experiences and those in my marriages, I have been diagnosed with complex PTSD. Complex PTSD (CPSTD) is the result of experiencing prolonged and repeated exposure to trauma; chronic, long-term. In the US, professionals use the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -5 (DSM-5) to diagnose mental health. Yet, in 2015, when the DSM was republished, CPTSD was removed as a diagnostic category. Yet experts in the psychological field disagree with this decision. Complex PTSD includes flashbacks, hypervigilance, avoidance of distressing reminders, identity and issues with emotion regulation, identity, sense of self, and relationships. 

The characteristics and symptoms of CPTSD have validated who I am to myself. It has helped me to understand why I do what I do and how I react to life experiences. It has given me a foundation in which to start my work; work of recovery. I realize I will probably never complete my healing journey. I am at an age where there is simply not enough time left to undo the trauma and abuse I have endured. Instead of throwing in the towel and being complacent though, I am resilient. I am using my life’s journey to support others in the work that they are doing. I am fascinated in learning about how the brain works and how I can learn to rewire my thinking. I share this information as I think it is important for us to start our time together with information that accurately reflects what I have experienced, who I have become, and what now informs my voice. 

My blogs are typically posted each Sunday on the Redeem Thyself webpage. I do hope you find encouragement, strength, and resilience in reading the blogs. We can learn from one another and know that it is possible to heal, recover, and move forward in a more healthy way of simply doing life day to day.

Website: j. m. lane

Instagram: @redeem_thyself

Instagram: @7_pedals

Facebook: Redeem Thyself

Email: info@juliemlane.com

775.560.5151

Note: JM Lane is NOT a mental health professional, nor does she carry a license to practice medicine. Posts, blogs, and content are based on JM Lane’s personal experiences, perceptions, and reflections. By no means does any material convey what others should or should not do.