SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - How can a 14-years-old girl kidnapped from her home and abused for 9 months be the woman Elizabeth Smart is today? To get the full answer we need to delve into her horrific experience from inside her mind.
The constant and very real death threats on Elizabeth and her family forced her into a sort of survival mode. "Our thinking begins to change. We don't think rationally," said Chief Psychologist at the Children's Center in Salt Lake City.
Some people wonder why she just didn't yell out when she heard searchers call her name. "She couldn't have yelled out that would have been virtually impossible for any victim in her position," said Goldsmith.
At one point Elizabeth says she gave up, but then something clicked in her mind. "After a few days that turned around. She was able to say you know what, 'My family wouldn't give up on me. My family wouldn't stop loving me," said Goldsmith.
Elizabeth's strong conviction of her parents love for her pushed her to survive. Goldsmith says on the last day of captivity when police finally found her an important thing happened, which finally allowed Elizabeth to feel safe. "They separated her from him. That was the critical piece logistically that occurred," said Goldsmith.
Even then she hesitated to share her true identity, but eventually came forward with the truth she buried to survive. Now almost 8 years later, Goldsmith says Elizabeth shows no signs of unresolved trauma.
"I would assume at some level that by being able to expose him now puts us in a reverse position. It puts Elizabeth in a control position to say, I have information that's going to cause you pain," said Goldsmith.
Elizabeth has since gone to college, is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and maintains healthy relationships.
Goldsmith says the one lesson we can learn from Elizabeth is people are able to rise above adversity.
