I remember hearing about CCASA (Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse) about a year ago when I was in the midst of coming to terms with my own difficult past. As an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse I wished that I had had the support and care that one needs after a traumatic event to develop the proper mechanisms for dealing with the acute stress reactions that tend to occur after. Of course it doesn't help that I was very young and the mind refuses to deal with issues beyond its coping abilities therefore showing up for many children in the form of stomach aches and chronic nightmares.
Denial is so much easier than facing your demons, but eventually they refuse to be ignored. I've faced my demons and will continue to do so for the rest of my life, but like many survivors I want to help other survivors, or even better, educate the public so that the next generation will not be as afraid to tell a loved one when someone is hurting them. Sexual abuse is one of the topics that many avoid in our society. No one really wants to talk about it.God knows I don't. The problem is its happening all around us. The statistics are alarming at best. Men, women, and children throughout Canada in every age range, in every religion, of every ethnicity, and in every tax bracket are affected. I want to help. Many of these crimes are not reported and yet the statistics are still 1 in 3 girls will face unwanted sexual acts before the age of 17 and 1 in 6 boys.
Tonight I am going to CCASA's orientation and next Saturday I start my first day of volunteer training. I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing there on a regular basis but there are plenty of opportunities to educate, comfort, and support others. I think being educated in this will perhaps help me heal (though I expect it might hurt at first), but also I hope that by being brave enough to talk about this topic and admitting it's impact on myself, I will help others around me who have been affected know that they are not alone.
Denial is so much easier than facing your demons, but eventually they refuse to be ignored. I've faced my demons and will continue to do so for the rest of my life, but like many survivors I want to help other survivors, or even better, educate the public so that the next generation will not be as afraid to tell a loved one when someone is hurting them. Sexual abuse is one of the topics that many avoid in our society. No one really wants to talk about it.God knows I don't. The problem is its happening all around us. The statistics are alarming at best. Men, women, and children throughout Canada in every age range, in every religion, of every ethnicity, and in every tax bracket are affected. I want to help. Many of these crimes are not reported and yet the statistics are still 1 in 3 girls will face unwanted sexual acts before the age of 17 and 1 in 6 boys.
Tonight I am going to CCASA's orientation and next Saturday I start my first day of volunteer training. I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing there on a regular basis but there are plenty of opportunities to educate, comfort, and support others. I think being educated in this will perhaps help me heal (though I expect it might hurt at first), but also I hope that by being brave enough to talk about this topic and admitting it's impact on myself, I will help others around me who have been affected know that they are not alone.
i'm so, so proud of you. and i miss you very much.
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