How would you respond?
Tomorrow I’m being interviewed with another survivor on a radio show/podcast. The first part of the interview the host would like us to tell our story and how we recovered. The women who I’m being interviewed with is a powerful advocate who brings awareness to sexual assault and trafficking. She speaks to first responders, and police officers coaching them on how to talk with someone who has just been sexually assaulted. I’m going to be talking about surviving trauma and living with PTSD. We both get to promote our books, which is always a bonus!
When I tell my story, I don’t go into detail, I don’t want to trigger myself or anyone else who may be listening to me speak. I have done enough talks to be able to read the audience and have learned what to say and not say. In a nutshell, I tell people I survived unimaginable abuse for the first 20 years of my life, with continued threats to stay silent. I worked hard to repress my past until a family tragedy jarred my memories and I couldn’t keep them under lock and key any longer. Despite living with PTSD, I’ve worked hard the past eight years to learn the truth of my past. I’m determined to help destigmatize mental illness, particularly PTSD, by speaking and writing openly about living with this disorder.
The second part of the segment, we will be interviewed by a local high student. This is the main reason I said yes to the interview. How cool is it to be interviewed by teenagers? She is going to ask the following 3 questions:
What should you do if you’re being abused?
What should you do if you know of a friend who is being abused?
What could people have done to better help you?
I’m so grateful for how interactive the blogging community is when it comes to comments. I would love to know how you would answer these questions. Any of the questions? Parents, what would you like your children to know? Younger people, what would you have liked or want to know? Survivors, how would you answer any of these questions?
Your input is greatly appreciated!
