Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 1825

Tonight's special guest is Malisia (Mia) McKinney from Jasper, Indiana, a returning NAASCA family member who's back to talk about her most recent work. Mia is a child abuse survivor of physical and sexual abuse and poisoning who advocates for other survivors through her writing. She recently authored a 12 Step Workbook for Survivors of Sexual Abuse, certainly one valid approach to healing. She also manages the Truth Seekers Facebook page, and is the CEO and Co-Founder at Advocate Alliance. Mia kept the secrets of her abuse hidden until the age of 34. "My mother used to say to me, 'If you tell anyone they will take you away and kill you. They will believe your evil and (you) made me do it!' I grew up thinking people would hate me if I told." Since disclosing her abuse Mia shares, "When we hold the secrets of abuse it pours out in many aspects of our lives." Now she encourages other survivors to find a healthy support system where it is possible to disclose and discuss abuse and recovery. “Telling is healing,” she states. “It's so important to have our pain validated because for so long we had to pretend it wasn't happening to survive." She goes on, "Remember, you are not alone. There is a group of courageous men and women survivors on the same journey who will gladly take your hand and lead you out of that cage. We spent our childhood carrying someone else's secrets and lies, but as adults we can unpack what doesn't belong to us and embrace life on our terms without fear.”