Books That Have Helped On My Healing Journey
- Know My Name: Chanel Miller Chanel Miller’s account of her attacker’s denials and what she went through during his trial so resonated with me. The constant shame and humiliation I felt, somehow thinking what he did to me was my fault, was echoed in her story. Having to confront my brother while on the stand, saying “Don’t” as I looked directly at him in the courtroom, was my “Know My Name” moment.
- Untamed: Glennon Doyle I read this book right after my abuse became public. There was so much that resonated with me as I was so terrified to tell my children about what happened to me, just like the author, Glennon Doyle, was initially scared to tell her secret that she was gay. In Untamed, Doyle shares her own journey of self-discovery, including struggles with addiction, an unhappy marriage, and the courage to embrace her true self – very similar to my own struggles. Her words taught me that it’s okay to speak out. To stand strong and be resilient and truthful to who you really are. Through this book, I learned how to embrace my story and move my life forward with only the truth, positivity, and love in my soul.
- Resolve: Alice Perle Of all the SSA Memoirs I read, this is the one I related to the most. I tagged multiple pages and wrote many notes throughout this book that I refer back to time and time again. With Alice’s book and the SSA resources above, I felt like I finally found my Community – men and women just like me who were sexually abused by their older brother or sister. I highly recommend this book for anyone who feels they are alone going through SSA.
- The Glass Castle: Jeanette Walls I saw so much of myself in Jeanette Walls’ memoir. Despite undergoing multiple hardships in a very difficult childhood, the author demonstrated remarkable resilience, breaking free from her circumstances to build a successful life. Reading the book a second time in 2023 helped motivate me to persevere through the adversity of being sued and subsequently, to have my sexual assaults become public.
- When It’s Time: Steps to Help Someone at the End-of-Life Die with Peace and Dignity: Rich Nisbet This book was extremely helpful during my sister’s breast cancer and subsequent death. After being moved to hospice, this book guided me on how to help my sister and her husband as well as my parents understand it was okay to say goodbye. That we need to give our loved ones permission if there is nothing that can be done. I used the same approach with my dad and brothers and our children helping my mother pass away after a sudden heart attack in 2021.
- Impossible Odds: Jessica Buchanan Jessica Buchanan’s account of overcoming unimaginable trauma gave me the strength and motivation I needed to tell my story. I was terrified to make it public, but after meeting Buchanan, and learning about her publishing company, Soul Speak Press, she sparked the confidence that I have the inner strength, faith, and courage to tell my story.
“There Are Bits And Pieces Of Yourself Scattered In EVery Book You Read”
-Unknown