Child Abuse Victims

Thousands of children each year become child abuse victims, either through sexual assault, or through physical, emotional or psychological abuse. No matter what method causes the damage, child abuse victims have a difficult battle to overcome effects of the abuse. In a memoir, Following the Whispers I chronicle my journey of belonging to that group of child abuse victims. It details a sexual molestation which occurred at age seven, as well as emotional and psychological abuse inflicted by my unknowing parents.

I wonder how many child abuse victims had parents who just didn’t know any better. We now know that children require a certain degree of unconditional love to grow into a healthy adulthood. Child abuse victims rarely receive that. We also know that fighting in front of children causes emotional and psychological trauma which creates child abuse victims because the child has no stable foundation from which to grow.

As an only child, I lived in the war zone my parents created with their constant battles most likely similar to other child abuse victims. I felt like I imagine a young, inadequately trained soldier might feel negotiating land littered with minefields, cut off from the commanders in charge. She hears faulty radio equipment emitting mostly static with perhaps a word or two coming through, which the young soldier attempts to interpret. Out in the field, alone and without resources, she is totally dependent on her own feelings and perceptions. These are the feelings of child abuse victims.

Like other child abuse victims, this led to a series of poor choices in relationships, loss of custody of my only child, and feelings of self-hatred so rampant, I contemplated suicide several times. These are probably not uncommon occurrences to child abuse victims. Following the Whispers highlights thoughts and feelings child abuse victims live with and how I overcame the effects of child abuse to live a fulfilling life.

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