I’m Dominique Ochola, formerly known as Dominique Anderson, and I grew up in the urban communities of Los Angeles, surrounded by addiction, grief, and the harsh realities of mental and physical abuse. From a young age, I faced trauma that shaped my life in profound ways. At just 10 or 11 years old, I was molested, an experience that left deep psychological scars and made me feel as if my body had no value.

As I grew older, I found myself recklessly allowing others to use and abuse me, often using those experiences as a means of coping with my pain. I was caught in a cycle of self-abuse that not only hurt me but also impacted my self-worth. The desensitization to this abuse was palpable; within my community, such experiences were normalized. Many around me had come from similar dysfunction, leading us to believe that this was just a part of life.

This book, “Fragment 1: Echoes of Resistance,” the first of a trilogy series chronicles my journey from birth to age 13, highlighting the years leading up to my decision to run away from home. I want to shed light on the psychological trauma inflicted on children growing up in urban communities that often lack resources, education, and financial stability. These factors contribute to a cycle of harm that can be incredibly difficult to break.

I recognize that my family did their best with the resources they had, but the trauma I endured lingered for years, affecting me in ways I couldn't fully understand at the time. While I acknowledge that others may have endured even more severe pain, I can only share my experiences and how they manifested in my life.

It is my hope that this book serves as a resource for parents and individuals who read it. I want them to see the red flags that where prevalent in my behaviors may be present in their own lives or the lives of those around them. My journey is a testament to resilience, and through sharing my story, I aim to create awareness about the impact of childhood trauma and the importance of mental health.

By opening up about my experiences, I hope to encourage others to seek help, recognize their worth, and break the cycle of trauma.As future series are published you will see the growth and how my mindset changes through maturity and mental health help. This growth could have happened sooner had it not been for the stigma around mental health in the black community.

"You can not beat a child into submission you can only deepen their trauma"