Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 541

Special guest Lynn Tolson, NAASCA family member from Colorado, author of the autobiographical book Beyond the Tears: A True Survivors Story -- A true story, Beyond the Tears begins with the suicide attempt of an abused and addicted twenty-five-year-old woman. In the aftermath, she commits to counseling to recover from anxiety and depression associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. The author engages the reader in therapy sessions where the young woman reveals dysfunctional family relationships, including domestic violence, sexual abuse, and mental illness. Due to the therapeutic process, the woman discovers a path to love and the value of life, and she ultimately achieves a life that reflects health and happiness. In sharing this inspirational journey, the author provides a message of hope. She seeks to break the silence, comfort other victims, and challenge our society. She says, "Its important to note that statistics reveal that an estimated 14 percent of those who experienced sexual assault may attempt suicide. This accounts for only those who made the connection obvious . I wonder about the empty percentage of those who make no association between rape and suicide. How could I know that my deep despair, overwhelming despondency, and desire to end my life was related to rape ? After all, I trained my brain to "remember...nothing" as I had been instructed by the perpetrators." Please see: www.beyondthetears.blogspot.com

Lynn Tolson