Today, I\u2019d like to introduce you to Liz Christensen, a mother of two teenagers involved in community theatre and is artistically talented. Liz enjoys writing her own scripts for plays and today has her Bachelors in Theatre and is self-employed in the theatre industry. Listen to her abuse story and how her experience has affected her marriage and emotional life, and how she attempted to \u201cshortcut\u201d her healing process.
The Last Child in Her Home
\u201cIf the Brady Bunch had one child together, that would be me!\u201d With only half biological brothers and sisters, all older than her. \u201cWhen my parents got married, they didn\u2019t think they were going to have any more kids.\u201d As a result, she has thirteen siblings, most of whom she doesn\u2019t remember living with because they had already moved out of the home. Liz went through her teen years, being the only child in the house.
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Being the last child in the house, her parents were older and a bit more financially stable. At this time, her parents started going on vacation and were able to take Liz with them. Older siblings didn\u2019t have this opportunity.
Growing Up as a Creative in the Theatre Community
As a young child, she and her friends would write their own plays, practice, and put them on with their parents for the audience. Her parents wanted her to develop their interests, and she attended theatre classes. During one summer, she was in three different shows. An adult male member of the cast, in his late teens, drove her home from a performance at the age of 13 and started the cycle of abuse.
Self-Blame for Her Sexual Abuse
Liz remembers the episodes, and while she did tell her abuser to stop, some opportunities were given to him in the future that allowed him to continue the cycle of abuse. At 13, she was conflicted as there were many details associated with her relationship with her abuser. Ultimately, she blamed herself for her abuse.
Growing up in a religious perspective, she was told: \u201cthat we have needs and desires, and we want to act on those, making it hard to keep the law of chastity.\u201d With this in mind, she spun the scenario that her abuser wanted her so much \u201cthat he must be in love with me and it\u2019s too hard for him to control himself, and that\u2019s why when I say, \u2018No!\u2019 he doesn\u2019t listen.\u201d
As an adult, Liz still feels that she can\u2019t tell people that they are making her feel uncomfortable, which bothers her tremendously. \u201cThe verbalization of standing up for myself was a tough part for me in my story.\u201d
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