Michael - Survivor of Child Abuse

Narelle Fraser Interviews

One of the best things about doing my podcast is discovering people who’ve never thought of sharing their story because 1) they didn’t think anyone would be interested 2) they thought there were others who were doing it tougher than them 3) they had never had the opportunity to tell their story or didn’t think they had the courage.

Today’s guest Michael (not his real name) is that person. Michael sent me a brief message after having read an article about me somewhere. Part of his message read “I want to express my thanks for your work. I can only guess about how hard it was. I write this as an older survivor of childhood abuse confidentially”. Funny how that last word has just been thrown out the window and cast aside by me!! Confidential!!!!– trust me Michael!!! Your secret is safe with me!!

I responded and said if he ever felt like talking about it, I’ve found many of my guests who’ve never told their story before, find it cathartic and their stories often helps others in the comfort of knowing they are not alone. I can be pretty persuasive and he finally relented!!!

Michael has such a great attitude considering his father was jailed for offences committed upon him and his siblings, one of which ended their life as a teenager with Michael never knowing (and never wanting to know) if they too had been abused by their father. It is no surprise that this abuse had a devastating effect on Michael and his family, with relationships fractured and ruined forever. Michael said to me in one phone conversation he was thankful he put his father in jail because “it gave him another 10 yrs of life” which he wouldn’t have had, had he not been incarcerated. If you don’t mind me saying, that’s very forgiving and I don’t think there’d be too many others out there as forgiving.

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