Oprah addresses incest again
It takes courage to speak out about incest, but talking about it is a major component of healing from the trauma of abuse. It’s bottling up the secret that keeps a victim feeling “dirty,” and filled with guilt and shame. Yesterday, Oprah had a follow-up show to her interview with Mackenzie Phillips that featured more brave souls who shared their experiences of incest—women who had been afraid to speak out until Mackenzie opened the door for them.
One of the guests was Kathryn Harrison, who had written a book about her 4-year incestuous “affair” with her father, called The Kiss. When it was first written, over a decade ago, no one believed her. As more people reveal their experiences, it will become safer for victims to open up about the traumas that shaped their lives.
Watching Oprah’s show, I was once again triggered to remember some of my past with my father. You can read about it on the Huffington Post.
March 16th, 2010 at 7:03 am
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one among every 4 workers in America will be attacked, threatened, or harassed at work in the course of their career. It must be affecting our home life. Though, there are many shows dealing with all kinds of domestic violence, television episodes examining the affect of workplace violence on domestic life is uncommon or none existent.
June 1st, 2010 at 6:07 am
This is a great post you have written here. This surely will help a lot of people.
I will be featuring this particular post on my blog this week.
Thanks so much!
Cheers!
July 13th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Hello Deborah: I read your book recently and I did a lot of crying through each chapter. I like many, was sexually abused, I know I am not unique and that at least 3 out of every 5 woman have been abused at least once in their life. I was abused from age 4 to 12, I remember the abused clearly even from age 4. I was abused by two male babysitter (one of them a cousin) my grandmother’s boyfriend and by my mom’s second husband who she threw out, and then let back in the house after 6 months, who did it again but this time he tried to murder me, and thank god for a neighbor who saved me.
At 17 teen my Dad show up in the middle night drunk and crawled into to bed with me naked and tried to force himself on me……..and then I found out that my bio Dad sexual abuse his second wifes kids, did disgusting things, and then he married a 3rd time and molested his 3rd’s wife daughter who at the time was 10.
I do not talk to my parents today and I am trying to forgive so I can move on but it is difficult, reason why I bought your book. I also have Interstitial Cystitis, Chronic Pelvic Pain, and Autoimmune syndrome. I developed an addiction, however today I am clean, sober thanks to AA program, I take NO medication, and I eat a raw diet, ….I am now at the point were I am trying to meditate and of course let go …..
I am so looking forward to the Truth Heals workshop in Wimberley Texas, reading your book has give me hope that I can heal from the abuse…….
I feel that if I don’t work on this that I will be dealing with this chronic pelvic pain forever……..I have had this for 29 years come August.
July 16th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Thank you for writing!
Warmly,
Deborah
July 16th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Thank you for sharing!
Warmly,
Deborah
July 16th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Hi Gloria,
Thank you so much for writing about your own personal story of abuse. I was very touched in reading it and I really am looking forward to seeing you in Wimberley and giving you a hug! Thanks so much for writing!
Warmly,
Deboarh