Phantom's Opera Remembered

SEASON 4 EPISODE 16

10.19.23

Guests: Chloe Pustelnik

Type of Survivorship: Friend or Acquaintance

Other Themes: Counseling & Therapy, Impact on Other Relationships, Sexuality & Intimacy

Chloe was in the house of the man she was seeing when his landlord came down the stairs completely naked. Their intentions were clear. “Not gonna happen,” she said, but she could tell it was all planned. The two men cornered and raped her. Like many other survivors, she repressed the memories of the abuse until they became too loud to ignore. One day, the word RAPE flashed in her head and she decided to get help.

Today, she shares her experiences living with PTSD and how trauma affected her sexuality and relationships. Now, her journey is about learning who she is and what makes her happy, whether by lying on the grass, singing opera, or supporting other survivors of trauma.