Content note: discussion of childhood sexual abuse, family violence, and trauma.
How do you build a life of your own after growing up in a home where you were not safe?
Cindy Benezra joins Jay to discuss surviving childhood sexual abuse and writing about her experience in Under the Orange Blossoms. She describes the fear and isolation of childhood, the difficulty of seeking help, and the long process of understanding what she had lived through.
They talk about the patterns that can follow people into adulthood, the determination to interrupt those patterns, and Cindy's relationship with gratitude and self-acceptance. Her account makes room for the continuing effects of trauma alongside the life and relationships she has built.
What We Explore
* Cindy's account of childhood abuse and seeking help
* The silence and isolation surrounding family trauma
* Writing Under the Orange Blossoms
* Recognizing patterns carried into adulthood
* The intention to break cycles of harm
* Gratitude and self-acceptance in Cindy's own life
* Speaking openly so other survivors feel less alone
About Cindy Benezra
Cindy Benezra is the author of Under the Orange Blossoms, a memoir about her experience of childhood abuse and its aftermath. She is a speaker and advocate for survivors.
The Tragedy Academy
Candid conversations exploring the human experience through tragedy and triumph.
Hosted by Jay Hicks.
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