Trigger Warning: This story contains references of sexual assault, abuse, and child abuse.
Actress Michelle Madrigal recently opened up that she is a survivor of child sexual abuse. She revealed this through an Instagram post just before the new year with the caption, “2024 is all about doing things bigger than myself and serving others. It starts today.”
READ: Michelle Madrigal Speaks Out About Child Sexual Abuse to Help Raise Funds for NGO
“To be completely transparent, I endured sexual abuse at a tender age for a number of years, a time when my innocence was cruelly taken, leading to a tumultuous adolescence,” she wrote.
Michelle continued to explain that this had caused her Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which she didn’t know she was experiencing until she finally sought help from a therapist when she was 20 years old.
“For nearly a decade, I held onto something that was finally released when I opened up. Understanding my rebellious phase suddenly made sense,” she continued to explain how the traumatic experience had led her to seek solace in drugs and alcohol to avoid the self-blame and the overwhelming emotions that consumed her for years. Thanks to her faith, she was able to begin her healing journey and she now aims to use her voice to help empower others who went through the same traumatic experience she did.
“My purpose in life is clear: to support survivors. I’ve always yearned to use my voice for a greater cause, and my mission is to help one survivor at a time feel acknowledged and secure, reassuring them that their story is significant,” she courageously stated.
Michelle continued to express how, as a mother, she believes it is her responsibility to educate her daughter about these realities. She mentions how older generations tend to sweep these issues under the rug rather than acknowledge them, leading to children not feeling safe to confide in anyone, even their parents. “I’m determined to change that narrative, to extend a helping hand, and foster an environment where openness and support prevail,” she added.
Michelle, who is now based in the U.S., ended her message with a call to action to donate to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), an anti-sexual violence organization that created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in the United States.
If you know someone who is experiencing any form of abuse, here are some local helplines that you may contact:
- NCMH Crisis Hotline: SMART: +639 08639-2672 GLOBE: +639 663514518; +639 178998727 (USAP)
- Bantay Bata Helpline 163: For free calls: landline (02) 163, Globe / Touch Mobile: #163 Email: bantaybata163@abs-cbnfoundation.com Open 7 days a week, 7 AM to 7 PM. Messages received beyond operating hours are responded to the following day.
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