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Welcome back to The Zen(ish) Mommy Podcast. Joining us today is author, book coach, film producer, and sexual abuse survivor, Kim O’hara. In this episode, we are breaking our silence and discussing the potentially triggering and emotional reality of sexual abuse. Statistically speaking, one in three women will be sexually abused during their lifetime. Today Kim is here to discuss how she found the courage to speak about her trauma, how she realized she had been abused since toddlerhood, the symptoms that manifested in the form of physical pain, substance abuse, and toxic relationships, as well as her relationship with her mother. We are all responsible for looking after ourselves and Kim shares her own experiences of doing so, through conventional and unconventional methods of therapy. We also talk about the person that turned Kim’s light on in her darkest hour before Kim tells us all about her new book, No Longer Denying Sexual Abuse. Lastly, Kim shares some advice for any women suffering in silence following sexual assault. To hear this incredibly inspirational story of recovery and healing, tune in now! Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for sexual assault. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing today’s guest, Kim O’hara.
• Why Kim decided to break her silence about the sexual abuse she encountered.
• TW: For listeners who wish to avoid Kim’s account of sexual assault, please skip audio between [00:05:52] and [00:08:52]
• What Kim’s initial realization of the abuse was like. 
• How physical pain, excessive romantic relationships, drugs, and alcohol use helped Kim realize that she had experienced trauma.
• Kim’s relationship with her mom and how that potentially links to hip pain. 
• Why we are our own mothers and why we need to be self-aware and work on ourselves. 
• The importance of therapy and knowing when to stop. 
• The unconventional therapeutic experiences Kim has been ‘called’ to do.
• Who encouraged Kim to share her story and gave her hope and inspiration.
• Why coaching is self-less. 
• How Kim continues to share her story and why she didn’t publish her book as a memoir.
• What Kim wants to say to women who are suffering in silence about sexual abuse. 
• When Kim brings her title of “sexual abuse survivor” up and when it isn’t relevant. 
• The power and potency of recovery.

Tweetables:

“A lot of our epiphanies are rarely painful or shocking. They’re usually gentle because we’ve been working our way up to it.” — @Astoryinside [0:09:09]

“Stop minimizing the trauma that you’ve faced and stop thinking that it’s going to take over your life and that you’re never going to stop talking about it.” — @Astoryinside [0:36:51]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kim O’hara

Kim O’hara on LinkedIn

Kim O’hara on Twitter

Course, Abused No Longer

No Longer Denying Sexual Abuse: Making The Choices That Can Change Your Life

The

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