Michael Broussard in Ask a Sex Abuse Survivor

Ask a Sex Abuse Survivor author and performer Michael Broussard is a poet, storyteller, playwright, performing artist, and mental health activist. He is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.

Michael’s abuse came at the hands of a trusted guardian, his stepfather. While children are often warned about “stranger danger”, studies show that most offenders are known to the child (see Fighting the “Stranger Danger” Myth at Psychology Today). Often they are a family member, a friend, or a well respected person in the community.

Michael’s healing journey has been a long one, and he is by no means completely healed. He continues to manage a host of mental health challenges, including complex PTSD, panic attacks, flashbacks, bipolar depression, bulimia, OCD, body dysmorphic disorder, and chronic low self esteem. But through his work in the survivor community, he has gained a new outlook on healing, seeing it not as a destination, but as a constant of being.

You can read more about Michael’s healing journey in this Huffington Post article.