Reflecting on Sexual Abuse and Trauma

There are no lack of comments in the blogosphere about the safety procedures for traveling by airplane. Here is one from my General, J.C.

I will not pretend to have read more than a handful of them. I no longer travel by plane somewhere every year. It's been nearly two years since I had that experience, and I only had to take off my shoes. That process caused me to knock over about six empty bins and was semi-comical. That was the trip to meet with my in-laws and family in South Carolina and remember Eric...

My mother flies often, and many people who are dear to me, do as well.

I know something about sexual abuse and trauma, however.

I am not a survivor of sexual abuse, but I have known many people who are. Some I have met professionally as co-workers, colleagues, clients. Many are friends and some are relatives of friends...

When I was first taught that 1 out of 3 girls is sexually abused in childhood, I wanted to believe that ratio to be false. They used to teach that 1 in 5 or 6 boys were survivors. Now we believe that 1 in 4 boys has been molested.

Partly because it is not a rare experience, it is not always traumatic. But for many, it is something which haunts, regardless of the time and healing which has transpired.

Sex and sexuality can be funny, and some survivors draw on jokes and imagery to reclaim power.

Abuse of children is not amusing. It is tragic.

There are children who are abused and molested who don't survive to adulthood. There are "accidents" which are intentional. There is self-destruction and self-neglect.

Originally, I included "Security" in the title of this post, but I will save that for another day.

I am honored by those who have trusted me with their stories.

The courage of survivors inspires me.