The Power of Truth: Darlene Lekowski’s Fight Against Sibling Sexual Trauma
My guest today is Darlene Lekowski. Darlene Lekowski is a number one top selling author, speaker, advocate, but most importantly, a survivor.
Forced to hide the secret of her childhood trauma for more than fifty years, Darlene is now speaking out. Her message is one of resiliency and healing, and her intention is to use her voice to help others find theirs. In this episode we discuss sexual assault, sibling abuse, family trauma, survivor advocacy and speaking out.
Website - https://darlene-lekowski.com/
IG - https://www.instagram.com/darlenelekowski
FB - https://www.facebook.com/darlenelekowski
Darlene's Book - https://www.amazon.com/Shattering-Silence-Survival-Justice-Telling/dp/1958472433
In this episode you will learn:
- Why sibling sexual abuse is the most hidden form of trauma and shockingly common—Darlene reveals that it's 3-5 times more common for an older sibling to abuse a younger one than parent-to-child abuse, with 1 in every 20-25 children in a classroom experiencing sibling sexual trauma right now, yet families bury it to preserve the "perfect image."
- How carrying shame from age 7 to your 50s doesn't just destroy your peace, it destroys your body—After decades of silence to protect her "Christian country club family," Darlene's suppressed trauma manifested as physical disease in her 50s, proving that what we bury doesn't disappear—it festers until we either tell the truth or destroy ourselves.
- What it takes to break a 40-year silence and why speaking the truth—even when your family rejects you, is the only path to freedom—Darlene finally told her story in her 50s, wrote a bestselling book, and now speaks globally about sibling sexual trauma, choosing to save herself and help millions of silent survivors rather than continue protecting the family that never protected her.
“At the age of seven, I was betrayed. I was betrayed by family members, which I'm sure some of your listeners can relate to. Brothers, my two oldest brothers, so I'm the youngest of five kids, my two oldest brothers sexually assaulted me from the ages of seven to 12. " - 00:02:18
“I hate that as victims, we are the ones that take on the shame." - 00:35:02
"It's never too late to tell your story. The silence is not yours to carry.” - 01:03:17
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