Comments for Child Abuse Story From Jodie

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Feb 15, 2008
 Such conflicted feelings so perfectly expressed...
by: Darlene Barriere - Webmaster

Your step-grandfather was a despicable, life-altering, childhood-stealing, sex offending pitiful excuse for a human being. He doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as the rest of humanity. He DOES deserve to be prosecuted.

I sincerely hope the continued professional help you are receiving continues to be helpful, Jodie. You so deserve that help.

Darlene Barriere
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir
Feb 15, 2008
 Hope this helps
by: Elaine

Jodie, I read your story and it brought back some memories for me, too. My childhood wasn't exactly great either, only it was because my mum was ill, and my dad was abusive and aggressive.

It's so sad that the scars last such a long time. Even after the abuse has stoped, you still have to try and make sense of your life.
When you're abused, as you know, your life isn't your own, and it doesn't feel "normal". I used to wish I could be someone else. My parents made me feel scared, and worthless, and ugly, and useless, and that they did not want me to exist. I can understand that people who get abused as kids find it hard to trust when they get older - I do. Like you, I have memories of my abuse 24/7, and I have "flashbacks" too. I still blame myself sometimes, and wonder what I could have done to change things.

I can totally get why you went off the rails, self-harming and abusing solvents. I went totally "wild" as a teenager. I had eating disorders, binged and took laxatives. I made myself sick. I used to smoke heavily, and get hideously drunk on any cheap booze I could get my hands on ( I even used to raid my mum's stash of booze, as she drank a lot too). I used to shoplift, and steal money off my parents. I ran away from home a few times, and spent a lot of time crashing with mates, but that sometimes meant I truanted from school, or turned up late. I always felt like I was getting myself into trouble. I know what it feels like to to have little control, and to need to do anything you can to "feel better".

I get the impression that you are a good person, who tried hard to stick to the things you were brought up to believe in. What sucks is that because someone hurt you, you are now confused and unhappy. Abuse makes you feel like that, it makes you question everything - yourself, other people, what you believe in..

I'm sorry that you had to end up in a mental health hospital because of the abuse you went through. But I'm glad to see that it's not all bad. Some of them aren't. I went on to train as a Social Worker, and I worked for a few years in Mental Health Services. There ARE people out there who truly want to help. It's great, too, that you aren't afraid to speak out about your experiences, and to accept help like counselling and psychotherapy. If you're willing to accept this, and to use it to get to know yourself, who YOU really are ( not who abusers kid you that you are) then it can be a really useful experience.

I agree that abuse takes a long while to heal. I still suffer the effects of mine. But I'm also trying to lead a life of my own, and get my head around the possibilities that are out there for me. You can too. Take it easy on yourself. You seem sensible enough to know not to expect too much too soon. And... good luck...
Feb 16, 2008
 Sex is wrong!
by: Francine

OMG your so-called step-grandpa is a pervert and a monster! He will get his karma! If he doesn't ever get prosecuted, he is going to live like that for the rest of his evil, brutal, disgusting, vile little unimportant life! Awful man! I'm so sorry!
Mar 06, 2008
 Amen
by: Anonymous

I certainly the guilty suffers. On earth, and beyond.
Your life is so precious. Those people treated you like trash.

But you are a gem.
Mar 11, 2008
 : )
by: Anonymous

im so glad that you are now getting help and recovoring from all the pain he caused you. im so so so sorry that you ever had to go throw all that i couldnt imagen that i will keep you in my prayers and hope your road of recovery is bright and happy thank you for telling your story keep telling it and help people it will make you feel much better when you realize all the people you have helped GOD BLESS YOU you have millions who care so never forget that im deffentily one

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