Incest is one of the most hidden and misunderstood forms of trauma, and yet, it leaves some of the deepest scars on the human psyche. For too long, survivors have been left to piece together our understanding from fragments: a quote here, a study there, a whispered truth buried in academic language. This page exists to change that.

Here, you’ll find a curated collection of peer-reviewed journal articles, research studies, and academic papers that explore the psychological, neurological, emotional, relational, and physical effects of incest and child sexual abuse. Each article represents a thread of truth, evidence that what we endured was not “just in our heads.” The data, the brain scans, the longitudinal studies, they all point to the same truth survivors have been trying to voice for decades: incest alters the way we experience ourselves, others, and the world.

While this page currently serves as a research library, each title will eventually link to a personal review and reflection where I’ll break down the findings in plain language, connecting scientific insights to lived survivor experience. My goal is to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and embodied healing, so that survivors, therapists, and advocates can better understand the invisible mechanisms of trauma and recovery.

Use this collection however you need to:

• To validate your experience.
• To inform your clinical or advocacy work.
• To deepen your understanding of the long-term impact of incest.
• Or simply to know that real research exists to support what your body has known all along.

This isn’t just a list of studies, it’s a record of truth, one that bears witness to the cost of silence and the power of understanding.

In the near future, each article listed here will include a personal review and trauma-informed reflection from me, translating research findings into real-world insight for survivors, clinicians, and loved ones. My reflections will explore how each study connects to the lived experience of incest trauma and what it means for our collective healing.