Some stories don’t just break the silence, they explain how silence gets built in the first place.
This week, I’m joined by author Andrea Leeb to talk about her memoir Such a Pretty Picture, an account of surviving childhood sexual abuse, living with complex trauma and CPTSD, and finding a path back to yourself that isn’t linear or tidy but is real.
Andrea shares the early moments that shaped her life, the confusing mix of fear, love, and self-blame, and the way adults can miss obvious warning signs when a family looks “pretty” from the outside. We also get into the effects of trauma: freezing, shame, self-harm, complicated sexuality, relationships that can’t hold intimacy, and the exhausting pressure to perform normal.
Andrea details her turning point-- a breakdown that finally makes help non-negotiable, and what treatment, therapy, and community can unlock over time. We end with a conversation about forgiveness, closure, and agency, including Andrea’s work supporting survivors through organizations like RAINN and the UCLA Rape Treatment Center, plus concrete resource reminders for anyone who needs a first step.
If this conversation resonates, share it with someone you trust, subscribe for more author interviews, and leave a review so more survivors and supporters can find it. What would it mean to you to be fully believed?
Purchase Andrea Leeb's "Such a Pretty Picture"
Resources:
National - RAINN.org/ 1-800-656-4673
Helping Hands - Commission for Women (Los Angeles area)
UCLA Rape Treatment Center / 424-259-7208
HAWC.org - Houston area/ 713-528-7273
Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline - 888-293-2080
Thank you for being here, Xx Alex
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