Silence.
Be quiet.
Don't tell.
Whether we are explicitly told to keep quiet or we make this choice out of fear, confusion, or shame, the impact of being silenced is huge.
I remember distinctly the feeling of suffocation. Words trapped at the back of my throat. When asked how I was doing or what I wanted for breakfast, these words would sting and cry out as I replied instead, "I'm fine. Pancakes please."
When my mom discovered my grandfather abusing me one day, she and my father immediately got him out of our home. And I am so thankful for that, because I know not all victims of abuse receive that kind of support.
So, here it was -- my chance to speak up, to be heard, to tell my story -- but I couldn't. And I wouldn't really talk about the abuse until my early twenties when I finally entered therapy.
Now, years and years later, I share my story everyday with my clients, through my podcast, and trainings. And each time I tell my story, it's another step of freedom. It's a refusal to be ashamed, scared, hindered, suffocated by the past.Today, I want to encourage you to reclaim your voice. To speak your truth (even if just to yourself). To find one trusted friend to bear witness to your journey.
And, if you'd like, you can share your story with me!Best,
 Do you suffer from the challenges & burdens of staying silent? This video is inspirational... women speaking out. Watch now. Child Sex Abuse Survivors Speak Out: "I'm Ready to Say It: I Was Abused". Read more. If your wounds were words, what would they say? Sometimes giving a voice to those hurts is a powerful way to release the pain.
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