Jaycee Dugard: Finally Free From Captivity, Writes About Experience

Coping With Trauma

After being rescued, Jaycee Dugard works on her trauma in many ways. One way she helps herself is to go to a horse ranch owned by Dr. Rebecca Bailey, a therapist who uses the animals to help trauma victims regain their confidence.

Bailey said, “One of the most important things of working with survivors of abduction is allowing them to have choices in every single thing they do. Those things happened to her; they’re not who she is.”

Adjusting

After spending 18 years in captivity, Jaycee’s eyes are still very sensitive to the sunlight. In addition, she’s had to learn independence.

Dugard uses a coach for things like grocery store shopping and writing checks. She joked to Sawyer that she is living out those awkward teenage years while approaching age 40 just, “to try to figure out…who I am.” Also she had to learn how to drive.