What if the reason you've struggled to heal from childhood sexual abuse isn't a lack of effort, but an incomplete understanding of how deeply trauma affects your identity, body, emotions, relationships, and sense of safety?
In this episode of More Than Sex and Secrets, Dr. Lisha Antiqua sits down with Susan Pease for a deeply personal conversation about childhood sexual abuse (CSA), ritual abuse, complex trauma, and the realities of healing from experiences that are often difficult to explain, disclose, or even fully understand.
For survivors of severe childhood trauma, the effects often extend far beyond painful memories. Trauma can influence nervous system responses, emotional regulation, self-worth, intimacy, trust, boundaries, and the ability to feel safe in your own body. Survivors may spend years seeking answers, trying different healing approaches, and wondering why certain trauma responses persist despite their efforts.
Together, Susan and Dr. Lisha explore the challenges of healing from childhood abuse, the importance of understanding the whole person, and the questions survivors deserve to ask about trauma recovery and therapeutic support.
This conversation challenges the assumption that every survivor follows the same healing path. We explore the difference between managing trauma symptoms and rebuilding a relationship with yourself, including the role of identity, self-trust, personal choice, and reclaiming your life beyond abuse.
If you've experienced childhood sexual abuse, complex PTSD, dissociation, betrayal trauma, or long-term emotional and relationship difficulties after abuse, this episode offers perspectives on recovery, resilience, and finding support that respects the complexity of your experiences.
You deserve a healing journey that recognizes the full impact of what you've survived.
Connect with Susan (Sue) and all the amazing resources she shared on the show. www.suepeasebanitt.com - Her books and work.
www.endritualabuse.org - Dr. Ellen Lacter’s website with resources and research
https://isstdworld.isst-d.org/network/network-find-a-professional - The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation’s Find a Therapist website where you can search for professionals experienced with dissociative disorders, trafficking, and RAMC (ritual abuse and mind control).
https://ra-free.org/migration-model - My colleague and fellow therapist author Eileen Aveni has developed a spiritual technique to help parts stuck in darkness move towards spiritual freedom.
In her new book it also includes an appendix showcasing this technique. Eileen wrote a chapter.https://ritualabuse.us/ - Neil Brick’s organization SMART (Stop Mind Control and Ritual Abuse Today) sponsors a conference every year and has a great depth of information as well as a newsletter. He has been doing advocacy work for decades and is a survivor of ritual abuse and mind control.
Continue Your Healing Journey and learn more about your host.
Explore Dr. Lisha Antiqua's trauma-informed education, coaching, books, and resources:
https://linktr.ee/drlishaantiqua
Begin with SSS: Safe, Secure & Successful, a seven-day introduction to building daily practices for greater safety, emotional awareness, and self-connection.
https://yourownuniversity.com/sss-invite
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