Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2418

Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2418

In this episode of 'Stop Child Abuse Now', host Charlie Stecker welcomes Isana Wild, a child abuse survivor and author from British Columbia, Canada. Isana shares her harrowing experiences of abuse she endured before the age of eight, inflicted by her oldest brother and a family friend. She recounts living in a constant state of fear, compounded by a deep-rooted fear of God, which left her struggling to fit into a world that felt incomprehensible.

Isana's journey towards healing is marked by significant challenges, including a tumultuous marriage that ended in divorce after four years. Her unresolved trauma and anger issues led to a rupture with her family and the God she felt she could never please. Seeking solace and a path to recovery, Isana took part in a 12-week program for survivors of sexual abuse, igniting the long process of healing from past traumas.

Her story is one of resilience, as Isana pursued a career as a police officer, only to find that the environment triggered the very traumas she was working to overcome. In 2011, Isana began writing her memoir, 'Unfinished: a Personal Journey of Healing, Self-Discovery and Resilience', as both a healing tool for herself and a beacon of hope for other women experiencing similar childhood and adult traumas.

Through her writing, she sends a powerful message that forgiveness is attainable and bitterness is not the only path. Isana emphasizes the liberating power of releasing anger and bitterness, which she describes as being imprisoned by those emotions. By accepting her past and learning from it, she found freedom and strength. Her memoir aims to inspire others to embrace their healing journey, emphasizing that life is a continuous process of growth and learning.

Throughout the episode, Isana's transparency and courage shine through as she shares her story publicly for the first time. Her closing remarks, taken from her memoir, reflect on the importance of personal accountability and the recognition that life, albeit difficult, offers lessons to inspire and challenge growth. As long as she is alive, Isana considers herself a work in progress, unfinished but ever-evolving.

Charlie's closing words underscore the collective responsibility of adults to intervene and prevent child abuse, leaving listeners with a poignant reminder of the importance of advocacy and support for survivors.