INTRODUCTION TO DYING FOR SEX: Scared to Feel After Sexual Abuse

Dying for Sex is certainly about sex. Yet, sex isn’t the heart of it. Dying for Sex is about being scared to feel after sexual abuse and how one dying woman finds her voice.

Yes, Molly is scared to feel. But feelings aren’t all she has blocked. Along with them, she’s lost access to knowing who she is, what she likes, and what she wants. That’s common after trauma.

In Episode 1 of Dying for Sex, Molly(Michelle Williams) says, “I haven’t accomplished anything,” except for being Steve’s wife and catering to his needs. She’s sick of it (to say the least) – and now she’s dying.

So, isn’t it time for Molly to ask: What does Molly want? What are Molly’s needs? What does Molly feel?

That’s no easy task. Childhood trauma’s main self-protection is not feeling the feelings that are too hard to feel. So, Molly begins with one thing she doesn’t want in Dying for Sex: Dying with Steve.

Then, she chooses what she does want: Dying with her best friend Nikki (who knows how to feel). Nikki has huge feelings.

Nikki’s a good choice for Molly. Mostly because Nikki gets her, and that’s no small thing.

In the next 8 posts, I will explore what each of the 8 episodes in Dying for Sex tells us about the aftereffects of childhood trauma and sexual abuse. And how dying helps Molly to heal.

Stay tuned. Please comment. I’d love to hear from you, and I will respond.