San Diego, CA. March 11, 2020 – The biggest fear among those that suffered sexual abuse is speaking out about their experiences. Whether it's against a family member or an employer, the trauma of the abuse creates a feeling of isolation, shame, and powerlessness. The influence of the #MeToo movement has encouraged victims to speak out, but the fear is still there for most. Local author Lori Golden shares these experiences in her memoir My House of Lies, where she reveals the grim reality of surviving sexual abuse and the hard, necessary steps to speak out about it and finding the courage to live life again.
The book chronicles Golden's life as she lived with the abuse perpetrated by her father. Despite having a seemingly "perfect" life with a family that loved her, her father's molestation made her live in an environment of secrecy, shame, and fear. As a result of that shame and fear, Golden turned to addiction as an adult, burying the pain she endured since she was five years old.
"Sexual abuse is a crime that instills fear in children," Golden states, "and what happens is that fear becomes a silent wall inside of you."
The account Golden gives is told through both prose and through drawings and paintings she made to help come to terms with her trauma during therapy.
"In my recovery," Golden continued, "I recovered this 13-year-old part of me that loved art."
Golden identifies four main points in recovering from abuse:
- Telling is the first step of healing. If you don't, you continue to live in silence, alone, with your abuser.
- Recovery is painful and hard. But without it, you live in its effects. Symptoms are not your DNA
- Sexual abuse has long tentacles. Know that it's not in the past, but alive in the present.
- Embrace your story and let your inner abused child speak out. You lived the worst of it as a child and survived. You can live freely once again.
Lori Golden is LCSW and EMDR certified and has worked in the mental health profession since the 1970s. She works with survivors of trauma and abuse and specializes in addiction recovery. Her practice includes individuals, groups, couples, and families. My House of Lies is currently available to buy on Amazon in both trade paperback and on Kindle.
For the media, Lori Golden is available for interviews. Contact her at 858-344-6045, or LoriGoldenAuthor@gmail.com. She resides in the San Diego area.
More information on Lori Golden can be found at www.LoriGoldenAuthor.com
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