Book Review: Scared Selfless

Dr. Michelle Stevens’ new book, Scared Selfless: My Journey from Abuse and Madness to Surviving and Thriving, powerfully weaves the story of a survivor of a child sex ring with the astounding facts about one of society’s most cloaked secrets. “I had noticed that we, as a society, are fed a steady stream of news of stories about abductions, fallen clergy, and child pornography. But despite all the TV ratings and magazine sales these stories garner, we seem to know very little about sexual abuse and why it occurs,” writes Stevens. Sex is a taboo subject. But sex with a child – unspeakable. And yet, for Stevens, it is a subject that not only needs to be spoken about, but better understood. Not only do we make wrong assumptions about why men choose to have sex with children, turn them into slaves or sell them, but we make many hurtful assumptions about the children – and later adults – who suffer the consequences. Describing her early childhood, Stevens tells the story of her mother’s then boyfriend, Gary, explaining how Stalin asked his cabinet if they wanted to know how to control people. Stalin then brings in a chicken and one-by-one removes all of its feathers. When he was done, the chicken refused to leave his side. While the outward appearance was tightly controlled, in the confines of Gary’s basement, Stevens slowly becomes that chicken. “I am cold and cramped in this little cell. The dog collar is too tight. I have to pee. I’ve quickly come to a...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Abuse Book Reviews Dissociative Trauma Child Abuse Dissociative Identity Disorder Dr. Michelle Stevens Molestation Rape Sexual Abuse Sexual Trauma Source Type: news