PTSD Awareness Month: Hope, Healing and Support After Abuse Trauma

By Toni Weisz/Recovery Tools

Scripture:
Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (NIV)

June is recognized as PTSD Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing understanding of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and encouraging those who are struggling to seek support and healing. At My Ashes to Beauty, we understand that trauma can leave deep emotional wounds, but we also believe that healing is possible and that every survivor deserves hope. Our main focus is helping women heal and recover from post-abortion and abuse.

Understanding PTSD

PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. While many people associate PTSD with military veterans, trauma can affect anyone. Survivors of abuse, domestic violence, accidents, natural disasters, medical crises, grief, and other life-altering experiences may also develop PTSD.

Symptoms can vary from person to person and may include:

Flashbacks or intrusive memories
Nightmares and sleep disturbances
Anxiety and panic attacks
Emotional numbness
Difficulty trusting others
Feelings of guilt, shame, or isolation
Hypervigilance or feeling constantly on guard

These symptoms can impact relationships, work, physical health, and overall quality of life. Yet many people suffer in silence because they fear being misunderstood or judged.

Breaking the Stigma

One of the most important goals of PTSD Awareness Month is to reduce the stigma surrounding trauma and mental health challenges. PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It is a human response to overwhelming experiences.

Healing does not happen through willpower alone. Just as physical injuries require care and treatment, emotional wounds often require support, understanding, and time to heal. Seeking help is a courageous step toward recovery.

At My Ashes to Beauty, we encourage individuals to recognize that they are not defined by what happened to them. Their story is greater than their pain, and their future can be brighter than their past.

The Journey Toward Healing

Recovery from trauma is not always a straight path. Some days may feel difficult, while others bring new breakthroughs and hope. Healing often involves building healthy coping skills, developing supportive relationships, processing difficult emotions, and learning to feel safe again.

For many survivors, finding a compassionate community can make all the difference. Being heard, believed, and supported helps reduce the feelings of loneliness that trauma often creates.

Whether healing comes through counseling, faith, support groups, self-care practices, or trusted relationships, every positive step forward matters.

From Ashes to Beauty

The mission of My Ashes to Beauty reflects a powerful truth: even after life’s most painful experiences, restoration is possible. While trauma may be part of a person’s story, it does not have to be the final chapter. God has a wonderful plan for your life. Now is a good time to get started on a new chapter of your life. And compassionate support is available at My Ashes to Beauty.

This PTSD Awareness Month, let us choose compassion over judgment, understanding over silence, and hope over despair. If you or someone you love is struggling with the effects of trauma, know that support is available and healing is possible.

Your journey may have begun in the ashes, but beauty can still emerge. One step, one day, and one moment of healing at a time.

Being in a space where others understand—where you don’t have to explain or hide—can make a meaningful difference. Recovery support groups, like those at My Ashes to Beauty (which focuses on post-abortion and abuse recovery and healing), are created to offer that kind of safe, compassionate environment. We invite you to join us on a conference call, a safe place where you can speak honestly about your abuse trauma, in an understanding and loving environment.

Please reach out if you would like to talk this week: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Here for you,

Toni

Back to BLOGS

Hidden Grief

By Toni Weisz / Recovery Tools

Scriptures: Psalm 34:18 and Psalm 51:17

Grief has a way of showing up quietly. Not always in ways others can see—but deeply, intensely, within.

In Scripture, we see this kind of grief in the life of David.

David wasn’t a stranger to sorrow. He experienced loss, regret, and deep emotional pain. In one of the most difficult seasons of his life, after his own failure and its consequences, David found himself overwhelmed with grief.

And he didn’t hide it from God.

In Psalm 34:18, he later writes:
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

That wasn’t just a comforting idea—it was something David lived.

David understood what it meant to feel brokenhearted, to carry sorrow that others may not fully understand, and to wrestle with both grief and the weight of his own choices.

And yet—he brought all of it to God.

In another moment of honesty, David writes:

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

David didn’t try to hide his grief.
He didn’t pretend he was fine.
He didn’t push his emotions away.

He brought his brokenness fully into the presence of God.

And that’s where healing began.

Grief after abortion can feel complicated—just like David’s grief was.

There may be sorrow mixed with regret.
Questions mixed with silence.
Feelings that don’t seem to fit into neat categories.

But David’s story shows us something important:

God is not repelled by your grief—He draws near to it.

You don’t have to have the “right words.”
You don’t have to sort out every emotion first.

Like David, you can come as you are—honest, broken, unsure—and still be met with compassion.

Grief is not something to rush past.

It’s something to bring into the light—gently, honestly, and at your own pace.

And sometimes, healing deepens when you’re walking through that grief with women who have walked that road and now experience the healing that is available to you.

Being in a space where others understand—where you don’t have to explain or hide—can make a meaningful difference. Post-abortion support groups, like those at My Ashes to Beauty, are created to offer that kind of safe, compassionate environment. We invite you to join us on a conference call, a safe place where you can speak honestly about your abortion, in an understanding and loving environment.

David didn’t heal by ignoring his pain.

He healed by bringing it to God—and allowing himself to be seen in it.

You can do the same.

Your thoughts:
If you’re dealing with grief right now and would like to be as honest as David was about his grief, what would you say to God about your grief right now?

Please reach out if you would like to talk this week: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

You are loved,
Toni

Back to BLOGS

Post-Abortion Healing Through Resurrection Power

By Toni Weisz / Recovery Tools
Scriptures: Matthew 28:1-10 and 2 Corinthians 5:17

Easter is a story of Christ’s resurrection. (Read Matthew 28:1-10)

It also gives meaning to life rising from what seemed lost, of hope breaking through darkness, and of something new being born out of something that felt final.

But for many, seasons like Easter can feel complicated.

When your heart is carrying grief, regret, or quiet pain, it can be hard to fully connect with messages of joy and new life.

You may find yourself wondering:

“Can something in me really be made new?”
“Can God bring life out of this part of my story?”

The message of the resurrection of Christ answers with a gentle but powerful yes.

God Specializes in New Life

The resurrection of Jesus is more than a moment in history—it’s also a picture of what God does.

He brings life out of what feels dead.
He restores what feels broken.
He redeems what feels beyond repair.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we’re reminded:
“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

That doesn’t mean your past disappears.

But it does mean your past does not have the final word.

When Your Heart Still Feels Heavy

After abortion, emotions can linger in unexpected ways.

Grief.
Shame.
“What ifs.”
Silent questions.

And sometimes it can feel like those things disqualify you from experiencing joy, peace, or closeness with God.

But the resurrection tells a different story. Jesus rose for broken, hurting, searching people.

He rose for you—right in the middle of your story.

Resurrection Doesn’t Ignore the Wounds

After Jesus rose, He still had scars.

They didn’t disappear—but they were no longer symbols of death.
They became evidence of victory and restoration.

In the same way, your story may always be part of you—but it does not have to be a place of shame.

Over time, through healing, it can become:

A place where God met you.
A place where growth began.
A place where life started to return.

Healing Is a Process of New Life

Resurrection isn’t always instant in how we experience it.

Sometimes it looks like:

A small moment of peace.
A shift in how you see yourself.
The courage to take one step toward healing.

New life often begins quietly.

But it grows.

And you don’t have to walk that process alone.

Being in a space where others understand—where healing is nurtured gently and without judgment—can make a meaningful difference. The My Ashes to Beauty Post-Abortion and Abuse Recovery Conference Call is helping women experience that kind of safe, compassionate restoration. You are invited to join us.

Your Story Is Not Over

Easter is a reminder that what feels like an ending is not always the end.

There is still life ahead.
There is still healing ahead.
There is still hope ahead.

God is not finished with your story. And even here—right in this place—new life can begin.

Your Thoughts?

What is one area of your heart where you long to experience new life or healing?

Please reach out if you would like to talk this week: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

You are loved,
Toni

Back to BLOGS

You’re Not Alone: The Silent Struggle After Abortion

By Toni Weisz / Recovery Tools

Scripture: Psalm 147:3

There are experiences many women carry quietly—tucked deep into the hidden places of their hearts. Abortion is often one of them.

On the outside, life may appear normal. Smiles, responsibilities, routines. But underneath, there can be a swirl of emotions that feel confusing, heavy, and isolating. Thoughts that go unspoken. Questions that feel too complicated—or too painful—to share.

If this is part of your story, you need to hear this: You are not alone.

Many women walk this road, even if it doesn’t look like it from the outside. The silence surrounding abortion can make it feel like you’re the only one struggling—but that silence is often shared by countless others who simply don’t know how to begin the conversation.

Silence can be heavy.
It can convince you that your feelings don’t matter.
It can whisper that no one would understand.

But the truth is, your experience matters. Your emotions matter. You matter.

Healing often begins with one simple, brave step: acknowledging what’s real.

That doesn’t mean you have to tell everyone your story. It doesn’t mean rushing into conversations before you’re ready. But it might look like being honest—with yourself. Naming what you feel. Allowing space for your story to exist without pushing it away.

Post-abortion creates several emotions and stages. Some women feel relief. Others feel grief. Many feel both at the same time. But emotions may shift over time, appearing months or even years later.

Whatever you’re feeling, it’s valid. And you don’t have to carry it alone forever. You deserve support that meets you with compassion, not judgment. This may be a chapter of your story—but it is not the whole story.

God has a wonderful plan for your life, and He has people who can help you move forward. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

There is more ahead. There is healing ahead. And there are others who understand more than you think.

There are safe places. Safe people. Gentle paths toward healing.

For some, that looks like opening up to a trusted friend or counselor. For others, it may mean connecting with women who truly understand this specific journey.

If you’ve been longing for that kind of space, there are communities created just for this purpose—like the post-abortion support group at My Ashes to Beauty, where women can begin to heal in a safe, compassionate environment.

You don’t have to take a big step today.
Just a small one toward connection here.

Your thoughts:
What is one feeling you’ve been carrying silently that you can begin to acknowledge today?

Please reach out if you would like to talk this week: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

You are loved,
Toni

Back to BLOGS

Idolatry and Codependency (Part 2)

By Toni Weisz/Recovery Tools

Scriptures: Philippians 4: 6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Idolatry is the act of putting something or someone before God in our hearts or minds. Idols are obsessions that consume us. An idol can be a job, money, a sport or hobby, a relationship, or a physical problem; anything that we put before God.

I find myself at least once per year picking up the book by Suellen McDolly, “Codependency No More.” It’s a quick read chock full of great insight, tips, and reminders to help me stay on my side of the street. Lately, I find myself jumping in and trying to control outcomes and situations in order to keep my home life more stable and comfortable. I don’t like hearing harsh and judgmental comments from an individual, so I try to control what is said to that person so that I don’t have to hear those harsh comments.

What? When I stopped to think about it, I again realized I cannot control another person’s conversation. What was I doing? Huge red flags were waving before my eyes. I felt so convicted that I was getting too intertwined in an unhealthy way. The Lord brought this to my mind. And the next day as I was journaling, He let me know what I was doing was a sin, it’s unhealthy and destructive, and it will rob me of my peace and joy.

The bottom line is when I don’t trust God to take care of things, and I jump into control things, I am telling God I can do better and I don’t need Your help. He knows I am feeling anxious and fearful. Look at Abraham and Sarah; she jumped in ahead of God’s plan and made a mess of her life and even the world because of her sin of not trusting God. I don’t want to make that same mistake.

I used to try to save, rescue, fix, and help other people too much, and it was extremely unhealthy. It was something I learned from my home of origin; it helped me cope with things I had no control over. Now I see that I have to be very careful that I don’t fall into those unhealthy behavioral patterns.

Lord, I recognize that I was trying to control things for my benefit so I could have peace in my home. That is wrong. I need to trust You and relinquish control to You completely. I surrender all to You. I pray You increase my faith and trust in You and leave the outcomes to You. I pray for this family member to have a soft heart and a desire to be in Your word daily. I believe a lot of this would change if he would do that, but I cannot control that either. All I can do is be an example of someone who is running hard after You, Lord. Help me, Lord, to keep my focus on You and You alone.

Questions to take to heart:

Are you fearful and anxious and trying to control things?
What is God leading you to do?
How can we pray for you?

Please reach out if you need to talk this week: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

To read Part 1 of Idolatry and Codependency:
https://myashestobeauty.com/idolatry-and-codependency-tonis-blog-abortion-recovery-and-abuse-support-group/

You are loved,
Toni

Back to BLOGS

A Time to Praise the Lord

by Toni Weisz/Recovery Tools

Scriptures: Joshua 4:6b-7, Revelation 12:11, Psalm 118:29, 28:7, 40:3, 150:6, and Isaiah 43:18-19

In the Book of Joshua, Chapter 4, we see God commanded the children of Israel to set up a memorial of remembrance for what He had done for them. These memorials were to be shared with future generations so they could see what amazing miraculous things God had done for them. I believe it is important for us to look back as well to see where we’ve come from and remember all the wondrous things the Lord has done for us.

Let’s look back over this past year, and let’s share all the wonderful things God has done for us and our families. There is power in our testimonies. We read in Revelation 12:11a, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Tell others the wondrous and amazing things that God has done for you. There is power in your testimony. We don’t know how our testimony can encourage someone else who is feeling hopeless, alone, and defeated. Your words can be the very thing they need to hear to encourage them and help them through a very dark time.

Let’s share some Scriptures that speak about our thanks to God for all His blessings.

Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good! For his mercy endures forever! Psalm 118:29

The Lord is my strength and my shield: my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. Psalm 28:7

And He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:3

But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6

I could go on and on praising the Lord with more Scriptures that speak about His wonderful attributes and His great love for us, but now I would like to share a brief testimony.

God gave me this verse for 2025 from Isaiah 43:18-19, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

In January, during a time of fasting and prayer, I started a new prayer journal, different from all previous years. I was desperate to hear from God, and we needed Him to move mightily on the behalf of my family. I wrote down 20 petitions with Scriptures for each one. I thanked God in advance for answering my prayers, and I signed my name and dated each one.

Slowly over the past year, God has answered many of my petitions which has been so humbling and has brought me to tears. In September, my son was strong enough to travel on an airplane with his wife to see my parents. He finally received a diagnosis on October 10, 2025, for the illness he’s had for four years.. My daughter, a single mom, has been blessed financially with a new job that started on November 9, 2025. God provided me with a part-time job this Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

In the ministry, we did two STS post-abortion studies and two Overcomers abuse studies. God raised up an army of godly courageous facilitators to help with our Bible studies this year. Thank you, ladies, for that. We’ve had 19 women on the call this year, which was our highest number ever. We just celebrated our 12^th year of conference calls. We have over 3000 people from all over the world visit our website monthly. We had the opportunity to share our ministry at several churches and events here in Palm Beach, FL, in VA and NC. On Saturday, November 8, 2025, Grace and her new husband, Matthew, were at Love Life’s 40^th week and she shared her miraculous redemption story. Matthew is the father of her aborted baby. Seven years after the abortion, they married on October 24, 2025.

God has given us at My Ashes to Beauty the distinct honor to walk with women who have felt all alone and tormented by the evil one. They come into our safe community and they feel the love of Jesus in our actions and words. God’s Holy Spirit is present on our conference calls and in our Bible studies. His fingerprints are all over this ministry, because it is His.

Please share a Scripture verse and a brief testimony about 3-5 minutes of what God has done in your life this year. We want to praise the Lord and thank Him for His abundant blessings.

To those who’ve been on the conference calls and also those reading online, thank you. I am so grateful to God for all of you.

I wish you and your families a very Blessed Thanksgiving.

You can reach out to me via email at:
toni@myashestobeauty.com

You are loved,
Toni

Back to BLOGS