Dr. John A. KingIndigenous Australian. 100% Human. Neo-Noir Novelist. Poet. Speaker. Performance coach. More than a Survivor. Terrible Golfer, Awkward Dancer🕺

Unseen Cost Of Childhood Abuse - living well with PTSD

18 Jan 2018 · 1 min

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1:00

In this monologue, Dr. John A. King recounts his lifelong struggle with stress and health problems that stem from childhood sexual abuse he endured from ages 4 to 16. He describes the unseen costs of that trauma, including PTSD, damaged relationships, missed life opportunities, and deteriorating physical health such as heart issues. He reflects on how these effects manifest in everyday life—like needing to drink decaf coffee—and emphasizes a pragmatic, resigned attitude of simply dealing with the consequences, as advised by his own book.

Chapters

So I had to go to the doctor yesterday. You know, my heart's not good. Too much stress, you know. Major, major challenges I've got. I don't need me a miracle, it's all good. Something else to fight against, I suppose. So anyway, this lady wants to know what causes so much stress and what's my stresses. And I try to explain to her that I've been stressed since I was 4. You know, that's when the abuse started. 4 to 16, and I suppose I just started to reflect that that really is the cost, the unseen cost of childhood sexual abuse. It's the lost relationships later in life, the opportunities you can't take, and it's your health. It's just all this sort of thing no one ever talks about. You know, that now apparently I have to drink bloody decaf coffee, which is ridiculous. Anyway, just gotta deal with it, as the book says. Just deal with it.