This Is Actually Happening 386: What if you woke up with someone's hands around your neck?
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Dec 2, 2025 In this riveting conversation, Amy Benedict, a talented actress and storyteller, shares her harrowing experience surviving a violent home invasion in 1991. She highlights her unique method of survival, using conversation to connect with her attacker. Amy candidly discusses the long-term impact on her mental health and career, revealing how she transformed her trauma into empowerment. From her journey through self-acceptance to reclaiming her narrative by running a marathon on the anniversary of the attack, her story is one of resilience and hope.
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Surviving A Home Invasion Rape
- Amy Benedict woke up with a masked man strangling her and was sexually assaulted in her apartment during the early morning hours.
- She fought, talked him down, and survived as he fled at 6:05 a.m., leaving her traumatized but alive.
Shock Can Turn Into Determination
- The immediate aftermath shifted her state from terror to a fierce desire for justice and answers.
- Amy recorded exhaustive details and gave nine pages of testimony that later helped connect many victims.
Advocate For Support That Helps
- When therapy didn't fit, Amy advocated for herself and changed providers until she found LaCAW, which helped her heal.
- Do not stick with ineffective support; seek alternatives that validate and understand your trauma.