“Taking everything that was trapped within my own self and to put it down on a piece of paper was quite a release of so much traumatic energy,” Lucy Henson said. “After that, I really thought more people needed to know about this. There are so many girls, boys, ladies who suffer in silence.”
Henson is a new Weatherford resident, and she just published her first book, “Scar Tissue.” In her book, she recounts her dark and painful past and her journey of healing. Henson’s childhood was full of all kinds of abuse, but she has grown into a mother, wife and business owner.
“Many people go through the same things that I went through in this book and so much worse, and they have to do it alone, because trauma is embarrassing to talk about, so we keep it inside and it causes us to implode,” Henson said. “I don’t want other people to feel like they are by themselves. If I can share my embarrassing trauma then maybe it will open the door to help other people also who will be able to start their own healing process.”
Even though Henson wanted to share her story, remembering the pain of the past was no easy process.
“Flashbacks, nightmares, memories, loss of sleep, loss of appetite, all the things which go along with reliving trauma, but if I can help other people then it very much is worth it,” she said.
“Writing it was like ripping off the band aid and having it bleed again.
But when you rip the bandaid off, it heals more and more every time.
There’s no more bleeding out. It’s all about the healing,” Henson said.
Since the book does share Henson’s experiences with various forms of abuse, she knows other victims may not be at a place where they can mentally handle reading her story, but she still thinks her story is one worth sharing. “I know it will probably trigger some people, and I am very sorry about that, but I feel like it is going to do way more good,” she said. And “Scar Tissues” already is making a difference. All reviewers on Amazon gave Henson’s story five stars and the comments are nothing but positive. One person who purchased the book said, “Definitely an attention grabber. It was difficult to comprehend the abuse which happened, but important for us to realize these situations are so real. It definitely was hard to put it down and so well written.”
Henson said having children of her own motivated her to break the cycle of abuse in her family. “I knew I did not want to be like the person who raised me. I did not want my daughter to be raised the way I was or to suffer the way I suffer. I can’t be a good wife, mother and person if I continue to carry on these toxic traits.”
While Henson was motivated to break the cycle, overcoming her past took years of work. Therapy, medication, a supportive husband and church all came into play. “God ultimately has helped me. If it weren’t for the grace of God and him being with me on a daily basis, even when I didn’t know he was with me, I would have turned out a lot different.
I give God a lot of glory,” she said.
“Everybody needs God, and they need a partner who will let them know that they are okay and safe.”
Henson’s story is one of trauma, recovery and strength, and she said everyone would benefit from reading it, not just fellow survivors. For those who have suffered abuse, they can find hope. For others and those in positions of power, they can better understand what red flags to look for. “It’s taboo, and I don’t want it to be taboo anymore. We have to let each other know that we’re not alone,” she said.
While “Scar Tissues” is Henson’s first book, she plans to write more in the future. “I don’t want this to be my last one. I didn’t know I was a writer until I got this one out. It was difficult, but I feel like I have another one in me for sure. I have a lot to tell still.”
Henson’s ultimate message is one of defiant hope, courage and compassion. “I’m not put together by any means, but I just wanted to be better and show my children it doesn’t matter where you come from or what you do or what hardships are put upon you.
There is ultimately a way out and we can help ourselves, and we can help other people too,” Henson said. “I don’t want anybody to think they are worthless because of what happened to them. We can make it together.”
To read the book, visit www. lucylhenson.com and find links to all the websites where the book is sold.