'I felt so alone'

THE KIDNAPPING SURVIVOR OPENS UP ABOUT HER ORDEAL IN A NEW DOCUMENTARY

- 

More than two decades have passed since Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, USA, at just 14.

Although she was eventually found and reunited with her parents after a harrowing nine-month ordeal at the hands of a predatory couple, returning home didn't mean her trauma disappeared overnight.

The 38-year-old has become a powerful advocate for survivors of sexual assault and is sharing her story in Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart (now streaming on Netflix). The film blends archival footage and never-before-seen material with interviews with Smart, her family members, investigators and those closest to the case.

“After I was rescued, I was very embarrassed by what had happened to me,” she told People while promoting the show. “Even though my head totally knew it wasn’t my fault, I couldn’t make my heart feel the same way. I felt I’d be judged for it. I ended up feeling very alone and isolated.”