Shame No More: Healing from Sexual Abuse

In this vulnerable conversation, Anne is joined by Casey and Belinda, who share their childhood experiences of sexual abuse and the aftermath of not being believed.

Casey reveals how her father’s abuse began at six, and the painful moment she was asked to apologize to him. Belinda recounts two assaults, the second of which led to her being labeled promiscuous. Both women describe the defense mechanism of “pretending to be asleep,” highlighting the helplessness of children in these situations.

Their stories show the lasting impact of unhealed trauma. Casey became a people-pleaser, while Belinda sought validation in harmful ways. This episode is a call to action: to teach children about bodily autonomy, create safe spaces to speak up, and, most importantly, believe them.

Join us in breaking the silence and supporting healing, because no child should carry the weight of sexual trauma alone.

This podcast dives deep into real, raw topics—think vulnerability, triggers, and childhood trauma. But just so we're super clear: I’m not a licensed therapist, mental health professional, or anything close. I’m just a human sharing stories, lessons, and life hacks based on personal experience and a whole lot of curiosity.

So, while you might find some golden nuggets here, this is not therapy and should never replace professional mental health care. If you or someone you love is going through it, please—seriously—reach out to a licensed therapist or healthcare provider. You deserve the real deal.

Need Help Now?
Here are a few amazing resources:

· 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): Call or text 988
· NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or nami.org/help
· Therapy Directory: psychologytoday.com
· Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

The opinions expressed on this show are ours and ours alone—no official organizations are responsible for what we say (or how much we overshare).