Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2665

Tonight's special guest is Diana Strong from Hot Springs, Arkansas, who was abused by her step-father from 3 years old until just before she turned 18, when she finally ran away from home. "Then I married a man that continued the abuse cycle," she says. "I have been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, PTSD, Depression and Anxiety. These are 'scars' I carry with me every day. Only those that get really close can see them. At 54 years old, I still struggle in my relationships due to the psychological damage caused from all those years of abuse." Diana explains, "I have been in therapy most of my life which has enabled me to 'present' as somewhat 'normal' in everyday life. Today I am a Certified Self Defense Instructor. I turned my feelings of helplessness into a passion for empowerment. I teach self-defense to all ages and abilities. I also offer my services free to women and children's non-profits and fundraisers and as an outreach to encourage all people to be proactive with their personal safety rather than reactive, when it is too late." She continues to work on getting the word out. "I am currently writing my biography, 'Diana Strong; My Journey from Multiple Personalities to Choosing My Identity', in which I talk in detail about my abuse in detail and my journey navigating life with the repercussions such as experiencing frequent flashbacks and complications from “switching” combined with persistent bouts of amnesia. I spend my time and energy helping others have hope that what has happened to them in the past does not need to define them. I CHOOSE to walk with my head held high and train up Warriors to walk after me for many generations to come."