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As children, we grow and learn the ways of the world and what is right and wrong. Our parents and carers, who we rely on, are our guides. But what happens when they or any person asks you to do something, or someone does something to you, touches you in a way that doesn't feel right or makes you feel strange? Maybe you're told it's special or a secret, or that it's your fault. When someone who professes to love you and should protect you, hurts you, it's confusing and damaging at any age, especially for vulnerable children. How do you make sense of it, escape it and cope? 

The host, Beth Armstrong guides a conversation between three brave, astute and articulate women, strangers who speak together anonymously to share their stories of abuse when they were children and how it has affected their lives. 

Some topics included in this discussion may be triggering or distressing for some listeners. If you need support, please contact Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Topics include: 

• sexual assault
• grooming/ pornographic images
• emotional abuse 
• sexual responses / out of body experiences 
• violence
• secrecy 
• disclosure 
• intergenerational trauma
• multiple perpetrators
•  recriminations
•  social difficulties / brain development / learning difficulties  
• healing 
• non-abusive parental guilt
• signs of abuse / sleeping difficulties/ eating disorders
• running
• masking true emotions - clown face
• trust difficulties
• celibacy / turning to religion 
• sexually promiscuous 
• distorted true nature 
• suicide 
• family reputation 
• accusations of victim being somehow partly responsible
• distorted ideas of love, manipulation
• victim feeling sexual pleasure is an indicator of guilt, confusion  
• whistleblower syndrome, where the victim is seen as the troublemaker
• threats of violence
• power of the voice, of speaking out 
• self-punishment
•  drugs as a coping mechanism/ anger

Share women's wisdom worldwide - for everyone.

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We appreciate your feedback and suggestions.
Contact Beth at: [email protected]

Sound production: Unison Sound.
Producer: Luke Mynott, Beth Armstrong
Host: Beth Armstrong
Editor: Tom Herdman, Mija Healey.
Sound Engineer: Micayla Laurence, Cihan Siral.
Composer: Biddy Connor
Artwork: wisebrownfox

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