Our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy have changed. We think you'll like them better this way.

Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 1575

  • Broadcast in Self Help
NAASCA ORG

NAASCA ORG

×  

Follow This Show

If you liked this show, you should follow NAASCA ORG.
h:57946
s:9852109
archived

Tonight's special guest is Rebecca Reitenauer from Emmaus, Pennsylvania, a child sexual abuse survivor who was assaulted throughout her childhood. Rebecca's was first abused by her mother's friend, George, beginning at 7 years old. At school, a teacher saw that Rebecca was acting out, and sent her to the office, where she revealed the sexual assaults. Her mother was called, then law enforcement and George eventually ended up in court. But the judge determined that Rebecca was too young to testify and George went free. Rebecca describes the next few years, recalling what had been done to her, as a nightmare, but the traumas of her youth were not over. In middle school she had a teacher, Mr. Chesternut, who would take her in a closet to molest her. A guidance councilor got Rebecca to reveal what was going on and she took her to the principal's office. The principal had Rebecca change classes since Mr. Chesternut denied everything and it was a case of her word aganist his. At 19 she came out as a lesbian. Her relationship with her mother deteriorated even more. When Rebecca's grandfather passed she and her girlfriend at the time came out of the closet. Her mother was furious and tried, "to kill me," placing her hands around Rebecca's neck until she couldn't breath. Rebecca blacked out. "Still today I cant trust anyone," Rebecca says. Now 31, she's been in counseling since she was 7 years old. "Some days I feel lost and alone, abandonment. Some days I feel like screaming .. and crying." Next on her healing journey, Rebecca wants to help still-suffering traumatized adults in an advocacy that includes sharing her own abuse story .. to show them they are not not alone.

Facebook comments

Available when logged-in to Facebook and if Targeting Cookies are enabled