Adult Survivors of Child Abuse

Adult survivors of child abuse number in the thousands. In my memoir, Following the Whispers, I talk about the kinds of issues adult survivors of child abuse encounter in childhood. Stories of adult survivors of child abuse are heard in twelve-step programs such as the one I attended for years, Adult Children of Alcoholics. Many of the participants were adult survivors of child abuse as well. As adult children of alcoholics, oftentimes, their stories were more violent and destructive than mine, but the characteristics of adult survivors of child abuse are similar in nature: we get guilt feelings when we stand up for ourselves; we have trouble knowing what “normal” is; and it is hard for us to say “no,” to name a few.

It took me years to understand that my childhood had been abusive and that the problems I encountered—poor relationship choices, inability to feel good about myself, problems with motherhood and parenting, dissatisfaction with work, hating myself, hating how I looked, having difficulty saying no, inability to speak up for myself, to name a few—were because I belong to the unfortunate folks who are adult survivors of child abuse.

In Following the Whispers the effects these characteristics of adult survivors of child abuse had on my life and my psyche are revealed. Adult survivors of child abuse have a choice—stay stuck in destructive patterns learned in childhood or become aware of those patterns and learn to change. Following the Whispers is the story of that evolution as one of many adult survivors of child abuse.

Want to know more about adult survivors of child abuse? Get your copy of Following the Whispers today!