Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2043

Tonight's special guest is Tracy Fricke from Springfield, Illinois, a returning NAASCA family member who has a new non profit effort, 'I Am A Survivor Photography' which is spreading awareness of child abuse. Tracy describes the mission as, "my very own passion project filled with unique and engaging content. Explore my site and all that I have to offer. Perhaps 'I Am A Survivor Photography' will give you the opportunity to share your story of child abuse through photography." Tracy certainly knows the topic. Her biological father was a paranoid schizophrenic and her real mom was always physically sick. Tracy herself struggled with disassociation. She says, "I survived and I fight everyday to be the best I know how." Tracy says she's not like other people and probably never will be. But she's getting better. "I can stand within a group of people without feeling overwhelmed. I have better self esteem and discontinue allowing the wrong people around me. I feel comfortable setting proper boundaries, with being a normal mom who understand the right thing, and most importantly know how to love myself." She moves slowly. "I am a mother to 3 wonderful daughters. I never wanted kids because I felt like I would be bad for them but it turns out I am not too bad. I have made mistakes and bad choices and I struggle everyday to keep going on." Tracy's journey is far from over. "Rarely do I make any contact mentally with my childhood for fear of visiting a place that I am not mentally or physically able handle. My list of therapists have tried to help, I presume. But when it gets tough, I quit. The few times that I really tried to connect, it almost broke me emotionally and the fear is real."