Breaking the Silence: Overcoming Sexual Abuse, Trauma, and Reclaiming Your Life After 50

Aging with Purpose and Passion

What happens when the "perfect" life you've built starts crumbling beneath your feet? At 50 years old, Christina L. Woods faced a life-altering reality—autoimmune issues, anxiety, and the breakdown of her 25-year marriage. Despite a successful corporate career, she couldn’t escape the truth she'd been hiding for years: deep-seated trauma stemming from childhood sexual abuse.

In this emotional episode, Christina opens up about her journey from a childhood of sexual abuse to a life spent hiding pain behind the façade of perfectionism. As the eldest daughter of teen parents in a chaotic household, she learned to survive by excelling at everything. But this coping mechanism, while it served her well for years, eventually led her to physical and emotional breakdowns at 50.

As she transitioned from a high-pressure corporate career to become a clinical hypnotherapist and empowerment coach, she faced the challenge of rewriting her identity and healing the wounds that had been buried for decades. Most notably, she had to learn the revolutionary concept of setting boundaries: “Boundaries became a lesson in what I am available for and how I choose myself first.”

For women who identify with perfectionism, people-pleasing, or burying trauma, Christina’s message is empowering: “It’s not your fault.” Her journey offers practical guidance on how to begin healing, with simple, everyday practices that lead to long-term transformation.

Christina’s story provides hope for anyone carrying the weight of past trauma. It’s never too late to reclaim your life and discover your authentic worth.

For similar stories on overcoming abuse, check out episodes 116 and 126 of Aging With Purpose And Passion.

Ready to break free? Listen now and discover how you can turn trauma into strength and live life on your own terms.

For similar episodes on overcoming abuse, check out episodes 116 and 126. And please help us spread the word by dropping a review and forwarding it to a friend.

Resources:

The Late Bloomer Living Podcast: inspires you to find joy, embrace change, and live playfully at ANY age. Whether you’re navigating midlife, moving beyond it, launching a new career, or simply looking for more fun and fulfillment, this show will empower you to take bold steps toward the life you truly want.

Christina L Woods

[email protected]https://christinalwoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/christinalwoodsvaron/ https://www.instagram.com/christina.lwoods/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinalwoodsvaron/

Beverley Glazer MA., ICCAC

[email protected] https://reinventimpossible.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverleyglazer/ https://www.facebook.com/beverley.glazerGROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenover50rock

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Chapters

1. Introducing Christina L. Woods (00:00:00)

2. Childhood Trauma and Creating Perfection (00:01:59)

3. The Perfect Life Falls Apart (00:06:50)

4. Boundaries and Self-Compassion (00:11:35)

5. It's Not Your Fault (00:15:16)

6. Key Takeaways and Resources (00:17:25)