Every year, Mental Health Awareness Month (MHA) establishes themes aimed at promoting awareness and educating the public about mental illness. This year’s theme, “Turn Awareness into Action,” highlights the advancements in acknowledging the significance of mental health and encourages individuals to transform understanding into impactful actions for change.
The Exclusive Press (EP) recognizes the challenges associated with mental illness and is also raising awareness about mental health through powerful storytelling for our viewers. The EP is dedicating its “This is For the Culture” May Edition to Marriage and Family Therapist Professional Roxie Dewitt Dawson. Dawson personifies this year’s theme of turning awareness into action. Dawson promotes mental health awareness in other ways through her book collections and her work as a marriage and family therapy professional, certified integrative wellness/life coach, certified grief counselor, and inspirational/transformational speaker.
On the outside, she doesn’t look like she’s been through it. The long-time Fayetteville resident possesses a warm and vibrant personality that brightens any space and inspires those around her through the teachings of God. Her story is one of triumph over adversity, highlighting her strength and resilience. Despite the unimaginable trauma she endures, she continues to radiate hope.
THE MANY FACES OF TRAUMA
The 64-year-old released her newly published book this month, Chased by Trauma While Running into Paths of Healing. She outlined various types of traumas in the book, including but not limited to socioeconomic, childhood, adulthood, relationships, intergenerational, spiritual (church hurt), and trauma from the womb. The title emerged within her while she was writing the book, as she reflected on her own life and felt that trauma had relentlessly pursued her.
“Time doesn’t heal unhealed trauma wounds, therapy does,” by Roxie Dewitt Dawson, Certified Relationship Coach; Courtesy of Roxie Dewitt Dawson
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines trauma as a wound, representing a psychological or emotional reaction to an event or experience that is challenging to forget. According to the APA, trauma can manifest years later if it is not properly managed or if healing has not occurred. In her book, she emphasizes that 70% (223.4 million people) of adults in the USA have encountered some traumatic event at least once in their lifetime.
CHASED BY TRAUMA
Dawson faced an unimaginable experience in her life when it came to trauma. In the summer of 1987, her firstborn son, Erran Zachary Dawson, tragically lost his life at the age of four due to an accidental gunshot inflicted by her six-year-old nephew. More than twenty years following the heartbreaking event, she found herself adopting the daughter of the nephew, who accidentally caused the death of Erran, during a family crisis that required her intervention to keep the child from entering social services’ custody.
What she first thought would be a short-lived circumstance eventually turned into a long-term commitment. She shared with the Exclusive that she had always desired a girl. Yet she never imagined it would be under those circumstances that God would divinely bless her with a daughter. She recalls the moment when she heard God’s voice telling her that Sarah would be her daughter. She questioned the voice until she understood that it was part of God’s plan.
She expressed that the experience of adopting Sarah taught her the power of God’s redemption, unconditional love, and forgiveness.
Brick by brick, Dawson walked onto the path into her purpose. She enrolled in one of the strictest accelerated Marriage and Family Therapy programs in the country at the age of 58. She completed the program all while raising Sarah and witnessing mental illness firsthand through her husband’s unprecedented levels of PTSD. As she was beginning to heal from the loss of her firstborn, another tragedy struck on September 5, 2020, when she lost her youngest son, Darius “DJ” Dawson, in a car accident.
RUNNING INTO PATHS OF HEALING
Writing the book was a therapeutic journey for Roxie that contributed to her healing while also helping others. Yet, amidst it all, she discovered the way to embark on her path to healing.
“The book is inspired by the Holy Spirit. If I’m going to write this book, I’m going to stay real,” she explained.
“I wanted God to take this story as far as he goes. Let me go not as Roxie but as his servant. God has got to get the glory out of this testimony,” she added.
Dawson authored another book prior to her current work, titled “Silenced by Arms…Children Are Dying,” where she recounts the heartbreaking event involving her firstborn. The book is available for purchase on her website.
Each year, Roxie and her family honor Darius’ legacy by organizing the annual community event known as Ruler Day. A scholarship has been established to commemorate Darius at his alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University, in Greensboro, NC.
Dawson has encountered numerous obstacles throughout her journey. The journey to healing from her unresolved trauma has been lengthy and challenging, yet she continued to push through the turmoil while guiding others on how to safeguard themselves from the traumatic storms in their forecasts. Those she meets are frequently amazed by her story and curious about how she perseveres. As someone who has a deep faith in God, she attributes her strength entirely to Him.
“I had to let God work through me in every way that Satan intended for harm and turn it into something glorious,” she exclaimed.
For more information about Roxie and to order her book, “Chased by Trauma While Running into Paths of Healing,” readers can visit www.chasedbytrauma.com.
Additionally, they can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at Roxie Dewitt Dawson.
To discover more about the annual Ruler Day celebrating Darius Dawson’s legacy, readers can like and follow “DJ Ruler Forever” on Facebook and Instagram.
