Sexual Abuse Survivor Stories of Hope and Healing
Their books, podcast interviews, and other projects help others see that recovery is possible
Whenever I write about mental health challenges I haven’t personally experienced, I seek wisdom from those who have. Today’s post quotes from and links to books mentioned in
’ newsletter, “The Unlearning Blog.”Dale is the author of a memoir, Hush, Child: Finding My Voice and Breaking the Silence, and these words are from his newsletter:
I haven’t really talked about this part of my story yet.
It’s included in my memoir, Hush, Child. Actually, the childhood sexual abuse is foundational to the rest of my story. Uncovering the memories and effects of that childhood abuse is what started my journey toward wholeness.
I’ve added his book and the two books by other survivors referenced below to my mental health bookstore. If you purchase them through the links in this post, you’ll financially support my work as well as theirs.
I admire the courage of all survivors who share their stories, but especially Dale and other men. Because the vast majority of survivors are women, there are many books, organizations, and other resources for them. But there aren’t as many for men, and fewer male survivors are willing to talk about the abuse they endured.
In addition to his newsletter, Dale Lykins has a podcast, “Hear It From Me.” This season’s guests are all sexual abuse survivors, two of whom have written memoirs.
Cathy Studer is a mental health and child abuse prevention advocate; her memoir is Broken to Beautifully Whole: A Compelling Crusade to Break the Silence, Move Through the Trauma, and Heal the Pain.
Gigi Kilroe is a member of RAINN’s Speaker Bureau; her memoir is From Within: My Path of Hope and Healing from Sexual Abuse.
For more details about these and other podcast guests, and direct links to those episodes, see
’ original post:
We can all benefit from hearing the stories of survivors. They are wonderful sources of encouragement as we deal with painful memories or other mental health challenges.
And those of us who are not sexual abuse survivors almost certainly have friends or family members who are. RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) cites statistics like these on its website:
Every 68 seconds another American is sexually assaulted.
1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed, 2.8% attempted).
About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.
RAINN’s website also shares survivors’ stories. It has a free, confidential national sexual assault hotline available 24/7 via phone (800-656-HOPE) or live chat. It includes information about state laws, RAINN’s work, and ways to help.
Thank you
and every other sexual abuse survivor brave enough to share their story! You give others hope and show them that recovery is possible.
I am glad you have several sexual survivor stories of hope in podcast interviews, books, a crisis line, and other projects. I am glad you included stories of male sexual abuse survivors also. When I was still actively a counselor two years ago, I felt thankful and glad I had some effective ways to help survivors of sexual abuse feel heard, and to witness their pain being released.