There are many survivors of the Jeffrey Epstein/Ghislaine Maxwell human trafficking scandal. While we only hear about the women, I have seen a photo online of him standing with a group of boys. I imagine that they are having a harder time coming forward, as male sexual abuse survivors often do. Virginia Giuffre appears to be the most outspoken, female survivor, with her book “Nobody’s Girl.” What is sad is two things, one that she felt so alone and depressed that she died by suicide. Secondly, that one of the other victim’s a Korean woman by the name of Rina Oh and she were in pursuit of justice in different ways and at odds with each other at the same time.

Pimps will often play their victims off one another. They rile them up with stories to create jealousy, dissention among the ranks and hatred. This is so they won’t bond with each other and stand together. If they did, they would go against the perpetrator and his/her power would all be ended. While Giuffre and Oh claimed the other was lying, I feel certain that both are telling their own version of the truth, based on their interpretation of the events which unfolded. One gives details and graphics, while the other just says “it happened,” but doesn’t provide a picture – accept with her art it sounds like.

Along with this human trafficking scandal are hundreds if not thousands of victims worldwide that only their parents know about. Children and adults who are not connected to an infamous millionaire, a former prince or one of the largest retail magnets. These are victims who may never surface, may be discarded when the pimp is finished with them, no differently than a covert narcissist and their “discard.” Except the difference could mean murder.

Human trafficking victims are people who are kidnapped or lured into the enterprise through a term called “grooming.” This is what Ghislaine Maxwell is serving time for. This is a tactic using manipulation, coercion, seduction, through material things that might be of interest to the victim. Our foster girls in Oakland, CA were coerced by “boyfriend” types who took them to dinner, had their cars loaded with lingerie. After they bring them in, they put them to work. It happens as the girls feel they owe the pimp something, or they are threatened in some way, or both. I know someone who used to live in Florida and they spoke of a high school (s) that was targeted by Ghislaine. I don’t know all the details of the type of school (public or private). We also know that Pres. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago country club was frequented, early on, to entice girls. Again, we are only hearing about the girls, not the boys (so far).

I would like to say more about this, though I am planning to read Ms. Giuffre’s book first to highlight her a little more. If you would like to learn more go to human trafficking. If you happen to be a victim and would like resources there is a National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Human trafficking is not just prostitution either. It can happen through nursing home caretakers, nail salons, maids, waiters/waitresses, any type of manual labor. Go to Statistics also through the National Human Trafficking website above to find out more. You can also go to this website to report suspicions of human trafficking.

Human trafficking pimps and their accomplices go beyond the typical narcissist that we generally talk about in relationships. We are talking about anti-social personality disorder or the more informal terms psychopath/sociopath.

When I initially wrote this earlier today, I forgot to turn this back around to the topic of surviving human trafficking! I became so focused on the topic itself, which is easy to do. It is upsetting to think someone would be abused in such a heinous way that you forget they need help as well – once they are away and safe.

I have no idea if Ms. Giuffre was getting help before she took her life or not. Psychotherapy does not keep people from making this choice, it can provide preventative maintenance but ultimately, we can not protect people 24/7. If she was in therapy and did not mention having a plan, the therapist would be unable to know what was on her mind. I feel for her though as it is difficult standing up for yourself, especially in the face of big powerful people who had a lot more money for attorneys and PR then she did.

People who are involved in such heinous types of abuse are more than likely suffering from PTSD. Many people that I see, who have been struggling most of their life, don’t always run for help immediately. They feel that the wall they have put up are protecting them. They are often afraid to allow these walls to go down, as it might make them weaker. Many people look for a partner to “save” them. They try to have families to help get on with their life and have a sense of “normalcy.” Normal means whatever they interpret as being normal.

Writing the book, Nobody’s Girl would have been a huge undertaking for this young woman. I am not sure if she had a writing background, but I would surmise that she did not. I can’t wait to read it and learn more. What she did makes her a heroine. Rina’s art work is also remarkable, healing through art in anyway, after such a tragedy is helpful but not enough. It is important to also seek out counseling to survive the ordeal that you have been through. You cannot do this alone. So don’t.