article in the Mustang times on the work that i am doing to break the silence of child sex abuse

Debbie Bunch had not stepped foot on a pageant stage since she was a teenager, but knew the time was right.  After competing in countless pageants as a child, the Oklahoma city woman is again taking center stage.
And this time she's bringing a powerful message with her. As a victim of child sex abuse, Bunch knows the pain many children and adults carry with them and wants to help break the silence.
Child sex abuse is an uncomfortable issue, but its something that affects so many people, Bunch said.
To raise awareness about the issues of child sex abuse, Bunch is making a run at the Mrs. Oklahoma plus America title next month.  As the reigning Mrs. Canadian county Plus America, Bunch has been able to promote her platform, but believes a state wide title would increase her impact.  I have not competed since i was 19 years old and i honestly never planned on it again, it just happened.  bunch said.
I want to get to the state level, so i can get out and spread the message to more people.
Mrs. Oklahoma Plus America is a platform based pageant for married women that wear at least a sz 14w.
 Contestants are judged heavily on the interview portion of the competition, which accounts for 50% of their score.  The women will also compete in evening wear, and elegant pant wear, with each segment counting for 25% of the total score.
Bunch said the Mrs. Oklahoma Plus America pageant is a perfect fit.

Im not interested in parading around in a bathing suit, I want to get my platform out there.  She said.
Its amazing how many people will talk to me now as Mrs. Canadian County plus America, and i feel like this will give me more leverage.
Bunch is hoping her message is heard by adults, who like herself, were victims of of sexual abuse and now suffer from an easting disorder.  she is also interested in helping others who suffer from PTSD and drug and alcohol abuse.
She said that sometimes victims of sexual abuse turn to drugs, alcohol or become an abuser themselves.
It becomes a vicious cycle and we need to help stop it....Bunch said.
"alot of times we help young children that are abused, but not offer help when they're adults and its a lifelong issue."
Bunch believes that the lack of assistance for adults is a major problem.
Along with the creation of support groups, Bunch would like to push for improved access to mental health professionals.  She endured a lengthy battle with her insurance provider before being granted one year of therapy.
It took me 6 months of going through my insurance before i could finally see a therapist.  Bunch said
I think that a lot of people would just give up before they get the help they so desperately need.
Bunch said those counseling sessions helped her talk to her family about her painful past.
the hardest part was telling my family about it, but once i did i felt a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.  Bunch said.
The Mrs. Oklahoma plus America pageant is set for may 6th and 7th at the Clarion Hotel and confrence center in Oklahoma city.

For more information about Bunch and her efforts to battle child sexual abuse visit http://www.debbiebunch.blogspot.com/

WHY I AM SO PASSIONATE ABOUT BREAKING THE SILENCE OF CHILD SEX ABUSE

1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys are sexually abused before they are 18.
I know these statistics are startling, but the reality is that it happens......and it happened to me! That's why i have committed my life to "breaking the silence of child sex abuse" and helping adult survivors heal from their past abuse.
My goals are to not only teach parents and caregivers the signs of abuse, but to help others understand that most of the time that this form of abuse wont begin to show symptoms until later in life.

Survivors generally suffer from post-tramatic stress disorder, OCD, eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse and the most devestating of all SOMETIMES the victim becomes the abuser.....this is why we have to "break the silence of child sex abuse"

my article in the yukon review

My article in the yukon review:

Editor

A Yukon woman is using her

pageant title as a platform to help

break the silence of child sexual

abuse. Debbie Bunch, Mrs.

Canadian County Plus America

2011, kept hidden for many

years her struggles after being a

sexual abuse victim growing up.

Recognizing that many adults

don’t seek help, Mrs. Canadian

County Plus America 2011 has

started focusing on adult recovery.

“It’s very healing to help others,”

she said.

Bunch called child sexual abuse

“a vicious cycle” as victims can

become offenders themselves

when they become adults. She is

looking to help victims who suffer

addictions like over-eating

and drug and alcohol abuse.

“We need to start healing adult

survivors,” she said. “Until we

can stop the cycle, we’ll never be

able to make an impact on this.”

The Yukon woman is endeavoring

to start a support group in

the Yukon-Oklahoma City area

specifically for adult survivors of

child sexual abuse.

“There are so many people

out there who need help, a support

system ... someone to talk

to,” she said. “We’re in the beginning

stages right now.

“I definitely see a need for it,

and I want to fill that need.”

Starting when she was 10 years

old, Bunch was victimized by

three people - two in her immediate

family and the third a close

family friend.

She kept the abuse a secret for

many years, afraid of the stigma.

“Child sexual abuse has a profound

effect on people’s lives,

often for the rest of their lives,”

Bunch said. “Many suffer from

post-traumatic stress disorders.”

The repercussions of the

abuse led to feelings of low selfworth

and over-eating that con

nSee Silence, page 2
Ccontinued into adulthood. Bunch realizes

-

they turn 18.

Bunch speaks to church and

civic groups, and works with organizations

like the Center For

Missing and Exploited Children

and Court Appointed Special Advocates

(CASA) to get the message

out and break the silence.

She also works with state lawmakers

to develop new legislation

that protects home day cares

from child sex offenders.

The Yukon woman will compete

this May for the title of Mrs. Oklahoma

Plus America. Contestants

are judged on community service,

stage presence and interview.

Bunch encouraged people to

visit her on-line blog at:

www.debbiebunch.blogspot.com.seven boys are victimized before

the trauma she suffered

will mean she’ll “never be the

person I could have been.”

“I didn’t say anything until I was

33,” said Bunch, noting she’s forgiven

her abusers. “I was killing

myself with my food addiction.”

Through therapy and “getting

it off my chest”, Bunch continues

to make progress on her

path to recovery.

Being able to talk openly about

her first-hand experiences has

been “very liberating.”

“It’s been about three years

since I told my family,” she said.

“It was a huge weight lifted off

my shoulder.

“I felt that I carried that burden

so long.”

As Mrs. Canadian County Plus

America 2011, the Yukon

woman’s platform is breaking the

silence of child sexual abuse. It’s

an issue she’s passionate about.

She wants to continue making

a difference for other adults with

repressed memories of child

abuse trauma.

Bunch tells other victims that

it’s OK to speak up about what

happened because “we didn’t do

anything wrong.”

She shared some startling statistics

about child sexual abuse:

* The average child sex offender

has more than 300 victims

in their lifetime.

* One in four girls and one in

meeting with recovering survivors of child sex abuse

Last week i had the honor to sit in with a support group of adult survivors of child sex abuse.  It was a group of men and women, and their stories were so inspiring.....there is a woman in the group who is an accomplished attorney, she was sexually molested by her uncle for more than 10 years.  She suffers from an eating disorder, and is a self confessed over-achiever in every aspect of her life.  There was a man who was sexually abused by his pastor for 5 years....he is also a self confessed over-achiever and suffers from bulemia....although their stories were heart breaking to hear.....thay are also very healing for me....im not alone.

I think that there is a lot of focus on protecting children from child abusers....as there should be, but there is very little help for the children that are abused that grow up into adults and have to figure out how to get past the abuse.  this is another part of breaking the silence of child sex abuse that i want to bring attention too.
the affects dont just stop in childhood they follow the survivor their entire life.

It's Official I am you new Mrs. Canadian County Plus America