Kidnap survivor Elizabeth Smart says her teen rape trauma affects her sex life with husband
KIDNAP survivor Elizabeth Smart has revealed how her horrific teen rape ordeal at the hands of a twisted fiend affects her sex life with her husband.
Smart, now 33, was infamously abducted from her bed at knifepoint aged 14 in June 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah, before being rescued nine months later.
Now has told how one of the questions she is often asked is: "How are you able to have sex after experiencing so much rape and sexual trauma?"
She explained about the "big differences" she sees between sex and rape which allow her to be intimate with husband Matthew Gilmour.
Smart, an advocate for survivors of abuse, said sex with her husband "is entered into by choice (also known as “enthusiastic consent”) and is based off a relationship built off of trust and mutual love."
"Honestly when I got home I didn't want anyone to know what had happened, I was embarrassed and ashamed."
In her first video she said: "I am not a therapist, I am not a counselor. Anything that I share will be my own personal opinions and
"Keep in mind, if you're struggling, don't be afraid of reaching out to a professional for help.
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"There's no shame in asking for help. If I'm talking about something that's triggering — turn it off. Just close out, it's fine. You won't offend me by doing that because taking care of yourself and respecting your own boundaries is really important.
"I imagine that sometimes I will talk about what it's like to be a survivor, or how my rape affected me, or how my rape has affected my intimate life as a married adult. If you find something triggering, just stop."