Man Breaks 40-Year Silence on Childhood Trauma
A podcast guest breaks 40 years of silence about childhood abuse, urging adults to listen when children disclose trauma and emphasizing that survivors—not perpetrators—should speak out.
In a deep conversation on the Khomkhao Story Podcast EP.106, Poh Patiyya discusses childhood abuse and the 40-year secret he kept about a traumatic incident. When asked if he tried telling trusted adults at the time, he explained that he attempted to speak up but no one listened. He conveyed his message to adults: "Listen to your children first," because the pain of disclosing such trauma is immense and it's not something people discuss easily.
Poh described his fear of not being believed, worried that if adults didn't take him seriously they wouldn't love him anymore. He noted he didn't tell his parents initially—not because he tried and failed, but because he didn't know how. He told his nanny, the housekeeper, and others, but kept it from his parents who were distant; his father worked constantly and discussing such matters was taboo in that era, 50 years prior.
He described feeling confused about what had happened to him, unable to articulate that something was wrong. The trauma manifested in specific triggers: the sound of car window curtains closing now causes him severe distress after all these years. He developed coping mechanisms born of helplessness and hopelessness—refusing to bathe so he'd smell bad and be left alone, or making himself as small and invisible as possible while desperately wanting someone to notice.
After 40 years, Poh decided to speak publicly to become a voice for millions of other survivors and to ensure children in his own family feel safe coming forward. He stressed that while not everyone can safely disclose their trauma, those who can must speak—because the wrongdoers should hide, not the victims. He emphasized this isn't about blaming his mother, but about breaking cycles of silence and protecting future generations.
