Our abuse took place in secret, and it happened when we were young and innocent. We lived with our hidden pain for years. I turned fifty-one before my memories flooded over me and forced me to learn to cope with my painful childhood.
Here's a statement I've adapted from Voice Today, an organization that works with survivors of sexual molestation.
A victim of murder feels no more pain;You may challenge that last phrase, "for the rest of his life," but I believe it's true. Terrible things were done to us and it takes a long time—years—the rest of our lives--to work through the process and to undo the damage. All our lives is accurate because the damage is deep and it's painful.
A victim of childhood sexual abuse feels pain for the rest of his life.
1 comment:
Roger emailed the following comment:
"Left untreated, uncounseled, uncared-for yes it can last all your life. It doesn't have to but many of us; full of shame, guilt, and anger will bury it and continue to deny and bury till we die. The effects are toxic and will not leave us the sole recipients of the toxic, attitudes, behavior, and pain. They will affect all of our relationships we come in contact with whether we know it or not.
I can break my leg, be inconvenienced and in pain for a while but 3 months later it is a fading memory. I can be abused as an innocent child one time and 65 years later still be weeping in my counselors office or my pillow about it. It is an intimate assault on the soul and identity of who I am and who I see myself as. Very little can do as much damage as sexual abuse.
Just my thoughts."
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