A professional woman with a solid reputation and strong morals in her forties doesn’t need to worry about a roofie, right?
Especially not at a professional meet-and-greet the night before she is scheduled to address a conference of her engineering peers. Not by a colleague she worked with and trusted for years?
Professional Women Beware
And yet, my friend Mary Ottman is not alone. Other professional women have whispered privately of awaking in terrifying circumstances, amidst confusion and horror, unable to speak or defend themselves.
Two Great Conversations with Mary
Taboo Topics. Her Story: Sexual Assault and Courage with Mary Ottman
Taboo Topics. Her Wisdom: Easy Does It; Passing Along Hard-Won Wisdom with Mary Ottman
Roofie is Not a Stereotype
We stereotype the words roofie and date rape when we think that the crime happens to drunken party-girl coeds who hang out at bars with too many frat boys.
The top definition of roofie is “When someone spikes your drink with a drug without your knowledge,” according to urbandictionary.com. Roofie is slang for Rohypnol, developed as a sleep aide, it’s infamously used to sexually assault unsuspecting people.
Drug-induced Confusion
Even women who make it a habit to limit themselves to one drink or less, find that the confusion induced by the drug is so great that they believe they complied in a drunken stuper. For some women, it takes days, even weeks, to piece together what actually happened. By the time they realize they were maliciously drugged, the evidence is out of their system. In fact, the evidence in the blood stream dissipates within hours, typically less than 72 hours, according to confirmbiosciences.com. The mental fog and emotional despair can linger for much longer, in part because Rohypnol induces amnesia, which can cause mental and emotional distress.
Courage Speaks and Prays
So, imagine my surprise when Mary agreed to come on Fireside Talk Radio and share her story for the first time publicly. Believe me, we prayed right up until she went on air and I am still praying for her. Our enemy the devil does not like it when we speak clearly about his destructive tactics, warning others to keep safe.
How does the drug effect a person? How can we be fore-warned and thus, fore-armed? Mary tenderly shares what she learned when reality set in after the initial trauma and shock wore off. She is no wimp, either, so her advice is all about victory and courage.
More from an Amazing Woman
Her message is so powerful you will not want to miss it, Sexual Assault and Courage at CathyKrafve.com. Listen and then, PLEASE, share it with your daughters and friends of all ages.
I asked her to come back and talk from her experience as a boss, executive, engineer by training, and a wise woman by decision. In a show we called Easy Does It: Passing Along Hard-Won Wisdom, she shares her tips on self-diagnosing ways to become a trusted and insightful leader.
Mary’s resume is impressive, but of course, the thing I most admire is her spirit and courage. May her courage help keep you safe, dear reader. Please pass this information along so other professional women can keep themselves safe, too.
May I pray for you?
Dear good Father, every woman seems to have some experience that breaks her heart. Often we are preyed upon by those who injure us. Our hearts become enraged when we learn a woman we love has been injured or taken advantage of. We know that You are good and powerful Father, yet we feel confusion and defeat when bad things happen. Teach us patiently, Dear One, to trust You with the places in our past that continue to break our hearts. Help us protect our hearts from people who would hurt us. Allow us courage to be victorious and to speak out in triumph. Heal us. Teach us what Your Son’s resurrection means in our life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
We love hearing from you!
How have you regained your footing after a heartbreak? What habits have you cultivated to remind yourself that your value is beyond measure?
You can sign up for my Newsletter by clicking here.
Cathy Krafve, Texas Author, Columnist, Speaker, and Radio Host, focusing on fellowship in Christian Marriage and Family, invites your stories, ideas, and questions at CathyKrafve.com. Truth with a Texas Twang.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks