1. A final thought on this Blanchet thing. I was sexually abused as a child (not by a family member) and it took me more than 25 years to talk about it.
You blame yourself, you’re too humiliated to talk about it, you’re ashamed and it confuses your understanding of sexuality.
You blame yourself, you’re too humiliated to talk about it, you’re ashamed and it confuses your understanding of sexuality.
2. The trauma fucks with your memory, it messes with your sleep. Everyone I’ve ever slept next to tells me I twitch relentlessly in bed, wake up super easily, am always guarded, didn’t like being touched for years.
3. My point is, it’s not the sort of thing I take lightly. I never said the woman’s account is true. I presented it, weighted it against Blanchet’s denial and the fact that it’s anonymous and untested in court. But I also don’t think it’s unusual for ppl to wait decades...
4. ...before talking about it.
Trauma literally re-wires your brain. It causes you to go into survival mode and do destructive things. Some ppl sympathize with their abuser, some even protect them for years. Your brain does what it needs to to keep you alive.
Trauma literally re-wires your brain. It causes you to go into survival mode and do destructive things. Some ppl sympathize with their abuser, some even protect them for years. Your brain does what it needs to to keep you alive.
5. A lot of people here have made sweeping judgements about sexual abuse without ever having experienced it and I hope they never have to. But I guarantee they know someone who has but hasn’t felt safe enough to talk about it.
6. Some of what’s being said encourages a culture of silence that makes it harder for survivors to open up and get the help they need. Please consider that when you make public statements about sexual abuse.
