1 minute read
VICKI HAMILTON
AUTHOR
HTTPS://WWW.AMAZON.COM/ITCHY-SECRETVICKI-HAMILTON-ALLEN/DP/1736169602
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THE ITCHY SECRET, AN EMOTIONAL JOURNEY
I never set out to be a children’s author, but I ended up drafting the book I needed as a child. The Itchy Secret centers on a strong, brave lion named Lou, who experienced trauma, and was told not to tell. The book follows Lou on his post traumatic journey. I tried to use multiple tactics to help children understand the emotions that they may be going through without naming them An itch is something much easier to understand for a child; it is uncomfortable, and you must scratch it to get rid of it Anxiety, guilt, shame, anger and depression are only some of the feelings survivors of trauma feel. I tried to address these emotions in the story in a way that children could recognize them if they too, were feeling them. The story leads the reader to keep asking “What do I do? What do I say?” while on a quest to find a trusted adult to tell the ‘Itchy Secret’ to
Lou’s specific trauma is never disclosed. Most adult readers have shared that they have recognized their own childhood traumas when reading this book.
My personal healing journey inspired the idea of Lou The thought of a brave, strong lion struggling to deal with the weight of his emotions lets kids know that even the strongest can struggle, and they are not alone. Decades after my childhood trauma, I finally grew the courage to talk about my ‘Itchy Secret’ with law enforcement. I realized that it wasn’t obvious to me as a child to trust an adult I kept quiet and told other children, and again later to other teens This approach was ineffective and those I told were not equipped to provide help. My book was created to empower children to tell their ‘Itchy Secrets’ to a trusted adult. This story is a prescription for those who come after me who are survivors of something, whether it be something they witnessed or something they experienced themselves; to do something about it and be empowered with the knowledge to know what to do. It starts by telling someone you trust.
Every caring adult needs to get this book for the children they love and care for.
