Tracing Trauma Amy Sweezey
Naome Bradshaw describes herself as a mom, wife, singer and friend. But mostly she’s a survivor. The trauma she survived in her past colors everything about her present. After years of neglect and abuse, Bradshaw was raped at the age of 4 by an older boy, but her parents didn’t believe her. Her mom and grandmother both suffered from mental illness; and after her parent’s divorce, her stepmom was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She bounced between foster homes and living on the streets throughout her teen years, struggling with managing her emotions and alcohol abuse. “I was just pressing everything down and it was like a powder keg,” Bradshaw said. “Eventually, everything just exploded.”
Photo Courtesy of Naome Bradshaw
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G R O W I N G B O L D E R / M AY D I G I TA L D I G E S T 2 1
