Comments for Child Abuse Story From Crybaby

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Feb 25, 2009
 I bristle at calling you "Crybaby"...
by: Darlene Barriere - Webmaster

Thank you for a great contribution! We are most definitely on the same page: the degree in which the child abuse affects you is what must be considered. So often I get submissions from child abuse survivors that open up with something along the lines: "What I suffered isn't as bad as most who have written on this site..." or "Given how bad so many had it, I feel like I shouldn't write my story here because I might sound as though I'm whining." That just isn't so. Hell is hell, as different as that hell may seem on the outside.

You could have been the 'poster child' for the signs and effects of abuse. Shame on those who either didn't or wouldn't step up to determine why you were acting out, why you were doing the things you did. I grew up in that same kind of "blinders on/it's none of my business" mentality. What's so disturbing to me is knowing that mentality still exists today.

Your stepfather struggled with his own demons; and instead of actually dealing with those demons, he chose to take them out on his step-children. It sounds as though you bore the brunt of much of it. None of the abuse was your fault; HE was the one out of control. But even more than that, you mother's job was to ensure that her children were kept safe from harm. Her failure to keep you safe from her husband who was violently out of control made her an enabler of that abuse. The betrayal and abandonment on this issue alone must have been overwhelming.

I'm delighted that you no longer self-harm. I am concerned that you continue to deal with depression and thoughts of suicide. You can't continue to deal with this alone. You need some kind of support. If you've read any of the comments I've left for contributors, you'll know that I generally recommend some form of counselling. Yes, there are those who oppose any form of counselling because they haven't found the relief they've sought when in sessions in the past; but I've come to learn that not all therapists are created equally. Nor are we in the same place this time around as we were the last time we sought help. I do hope you'll consider counselling. It could lead you to that often elusive path toward healing and recovery. You certainly deserve that in your life.

Again, thank you for sharing your story and even more importantly, your insight, on this website. I know that my visitors will be able to relate on many levels.

A Video Reading by Darlene Barriere
Darlene Barriere
Webmaster: www.child-abuse-effects.com
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir

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Disclaimer: To the best of my knowledge the child abuse
stories on this site are true. While I cannot guarantee
this, I do try to balance the need for the submitter to be
heard and validated with the needs of my visitors.



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From Victim to Victory
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How I got over the devastating effects of child abuse and moved on with my life

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