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As an 8 year old boy, Richard Pink was sexually abused by his granddad. He grew up in a world of shame and silence, as speaking about his abuse, especially as a male, was difficult. It is a very vulnerable conversation and isn't deemed as something masculine. Although he attempted to speak to his siblings about his abuse one night at the bar, the conversation didn't turn out the way he was hoping. Ultimately, he coped with the pain and secrecy through alcohol and gambling. As of the recording of this episode, Richard is 1 year sober.
As Richard described telling his parents for the first time, we learned that as a survivor who is opening up and telling his or her story, it is vitally important that we not only believe their story, but consider the child that went through the trauma. Oftentimes, when abuse is discussed, you're hearing it from an adult, but that child needs to be seen, heard, hugged, and cherished. That young self is still hurting, and although the logical adult brain can explain away the hurt, the emotional side and the hurt child needs that support.
During our conversation we discuss how dealing with our trauma is important so we can better parent our kids. The improved behaviors we see in our children are often times a reaction to the mental health changes we are courageous enough to work through. Throughout the episode, we talk about how you can make sure you're the parent your child needs throughout any situation. This does not mean that you are always calm and never yell, but it does mean that you are aware of the emotional toll you place on your child because of how you react. Conversations, explanations, and apologies should always be part of how you talk with your children.
Today, Richard has social media handles 1-in-6 as a nod to the statistic that shows that one in six males are abused. That is 17% of our male population that is sexual abused, but isn't allowed to discuss it because it's not manly or cool to show your emotions or talk about your trauma. Men like Richard are breaking down the stigma against emotional and mental health. They are bravely putting their stories online so that other male survivors know they are not alone and know that there is a path to healing.
Support Richard's projects and social media:
Instagram: @1_in_six
Tik Tok: 1_in_six
Instagram: Trauma Song
Connect and Support 🙏🏽✨💙
Instagram: @saveourchildrenpodcast
Bridget: @beautybyb____
Becky: @becky_standbysurvivors
Website: www.standbysurvivors.com
Connect and Support 🙏🏽✨💙
Instagram: @saveourchildrenpodcast
Bridget: @beautybyb____
Becky: @becky_standbysurvivors
Website: www.standbysurvivors.com
