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Sibling Sexual Abuse: Breaking the Silence
Over the past two weeks, I attended two conferences focused on child sexual abuse (CSA) and harmful sexual behaviour (HSB): Reshaping the Conversation with the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse in Brisbane, and the Kids First Australia National CSA and HSB Conference in Melbourne. Across both events, which featured a wide range of expert speakers, practitioners, and advocates, one thing stood out to me—they don’t say sibling sexual abuse (SSA) much, do they? It felt so at odds with the international peer support groups and advocacy organisations I contribute to. One specifically for SSA survivor peer support created by EmpowerSurvivors has around 1000 members, and we know…
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Understanding cPTSD: A Survivor’s Journey
What is cPTSD? Complex PTSD (cPTSD) arises from prolonged or repeated exposure to trauma, particularly in childhood. Unlike typical PTSD, which is often linked to a single event, cPTSD is a response to ongoing trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse (CSA) or, in my case, sibling sexual abuse (SSA). I’ll refer to CSA and SSA throughout rather than focusing solely on SSA. I am also conscious of feedback from readers of Resolve that anyone who experienced childhood trauma, whether sexual or not, could benefit from what is shared there. Discussing cPTSD offers a universally helpful message, and I hope what I share here today will resonate with you or help you take your…
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Enough For Now
As I moved through my journey and sought clarity on what happened to me, how it impacted my life, and how I could respond, I often found myself thinking, “enough, that’s enough for now.” I didn’t realise then that this thought was more universal than just my experience. In healing, sometimes one step is all that’s needed for now; then it’s the next step, and then the one after that. Not all at once—sometimes, they’re jumbled together, creating a chaotic mess that obscures the bigger picture. These moments can bring tears, prompting retreat into the safety of silence. I’d need space and time to nurture and love myself, acknowledging and…
