Speak Loud

I sit down with a very special guest, Shirley Barnes, who shares her story of mental and physical abuse and molestation. Shirley explains that through her experience with abuse, she’s realized the importance of speaking up and speaking out against abuse when it happens.Unfortunately, Shirley, like so many others, experienced sexual abuse and molestation at a young age that continued into her teenage years. Shirley touches on these instances of molestation that she endured throughout her childhood. Shirley explains her abusive home situation throughout her youth and how it contributed to her molestation and the perception she had of the sexual abuse she faced. She admits the guilt she feels for not speaking up to ensure that sexual abuse wasn’t imposed on others.She delves into her past and the mental abuse inflicted upon her from her mother which led to abandonment issues that continue to affect her now. Shirley explains how certain coping mechanisms have manifested within her as a direct result of the sexual