Support Needed for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
Exchange Club Family Center (http://www.nationalexchangeclub.org/) helped me tremendously several years ago with the in-home social worker who came one hour a week. I learned so much, was able to see shortcomings and developed better relationship skills with my children. Two years ago I spoke at a Wednesday Child's Fundraiser Dinner for Nashville Center. It was a highlight of my life to thank and explain what a blessing this organization is to me and other families.
Now that I have "graduated" the program, there is a gap in support for adult survivors of child abuse that I have not been able to find with any child abuse prevention organization. Organizations help children and women in current abuse situations get resources and support.
They step in:
The problem is adult survivors of severe child abuse struggle very frequently with mental illness as a consequence of being repeatedly abused at a very young age over an extended period of time and in a life-threatening situations by people who are suppose to be caregivers. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Dissociative Disorder, Identity Disorder, and severe anxiety and depression are some of the most common illnesses.
These adults also do not have extended family for support such as parents, grandparents, aunts, etc. Any family know how important extended family is to enriching the lives of children and to meet needs for encouragement or a loving helping hand. We all do things for our "family" that we would never do for others. Adult survivors of child abuse don't have this stabilizing network.
Simple things like homemaking, holiday traditions, daily scheduling/planning, follow-through and relationship skills are not simple for adult survivors of child abuse because of frequent flashbacks, detatchment, depression, anxiety, memory triggers/reemergence, hyper-vigilance, and other symptoms that are very common among adult survivors of child abuse. Here is a link for more medical information (http://www.realmentalhealth.com/dissociative_disorders/symptoms_01_3.asp). This entire site is full of detailed information on what is common for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse.
I have also found a support network that is visited from around the world of survivors of child abuse (http://childabusesurvivor.ning.com/). It was formed by someone who was abused; and it is visited by people who need encouragement, and a place to be honest and real about their story and struggles. While this site helps us know we are not alone, it can not meet any hands on needs.
I am a writer of a bi-monthly article on a digital magazine (www.takerootandwrite). The column is Abuse and Trauma, Hope and Healing. I am blessed to be able to minister to others by encouraging them to keep moving forward toward healing. Being involved in these sites has helped me to see that my struggles and needs are not unique but totally common with Adult Survivors of Child Abuse.
I love to share thoughts, answer questions, and find a way to develop solutions, support and substance for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse who are desperately seeking to heal and raise up a loving family. In ending child abuse, this is one of the last frontiers to be entered. It is where the rubber meets the road. These adults are the forefront lines making sure the abuse stops with them. We need help. This life challenge before us is painful and difficult, but I have witness many brave souls stepping up to confront their status quo, who have a resolve to see the abuse pattern changed to loving, functional family relationships.
I look forward to hearing from anyone that would be at least be open to listen and consider the needs of this large population of adult survivors of abuse.
Now that I have "graduated" the program, there is a gap in support for adult survivors of child abuse that I have not been able to find with any child abuse prevention organization. Organizations help children and women in current abuse situations get resources and support.
They step in:
- helping parents who are at risk for abusing their own children,
- teaching parenting skills,
- providing programs for divorce families,
- finding resources for adults of child abuse who abuse substances or who are repeating the abuse cycle, and
- providing educational awareness to the public for prevention of child abuse.
The problem is adult survivors of severe child abuse struggle very frequently with mental illness as a consequence of being repeatedly abused at a very young age over an extended period of time and in a life-threatening situations by people who are suppose to be caregivers. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Dissociative Disorder, Identity Disorder, and severe anxiety and depression are some of the most common illnesses.
These adults also do not have extended family for support such as parents, grandparents, aunts, etc. Any family know how important extended family is to enriching the lives of children and to meet needs for encouragement or a loving helping hand. We all do things for our "family" that we would never do for others. Adult survivors of child abuse don't have this stabilizing network.
Simple things like homemaking, holiday traditions, daily scheduling/planning, follow-through and relationship skills are not simple for adult survivors of child abuse because of frequent flashbacks, detatchment, depression, anxiety, memory triggers/reemergence, hyper-vigilance, and other symptoms that are very common among adult survivors of child abuse. Here is a link for more medical information (http://www.realmentalhealth.com/dissociative_disorders/symptoms_01_3.asp). This entire site is full of detailed information on what is common for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse.
I have also found a support network that is visited from around the world of survivors of child abuse (http://childabusesurvivor.ning.com/). It was formed by someone who was abused; and it is visited by people who need encouragement, and a place to be honest and real about their story and struggles. While this site helps us know we are not alone, it can not meet any hands on needs.
I am a writer of a bi-monthly article on a digital magazine (www.takerootandwrite). The column is Abuse and Trauma, Hope and Healing. I am blessed to be able to minister to others by encouraging them to keep moving forward toward healing. Being involved in these sites has helped me to see that my struggles and needs are not unique but totally common with Adult Survivors of Child Abuse.
I love to share thoughts, answer questions, and find a way to develop solutions, support and substance for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse who are desperately seeking to heal and raise up a loving family. In ending child abuse, this is one of the last frontiers to be entered. It is where the rubber meets the road. These adults are the forefront lines making sure the abuse stops with them. We need help. This life challenge before us is painful and difficult, but I have witness many brave souls stepping up to confront their status quo, who have a resolve to see the abuse pattern changed to loving, functional family relationships.
I look forward to hearing from anyone that would be at least be open to listen and consider the needs of this large population of adult survivors of abuse.
Comments
On the other hand, you're right an online network can be great for some things, but not so much for helping you get things done in person.
I'm open to utilizing the existing network to perhaps create geographic groups of people who might be interested in creating local support groups, or something along those lines. It's never been a requirement for people to proclaim where they are from, but I would be open to letting folks volunteer to join groups based on geographic areas.
Lots of possibilities there, consider this an open invite to use the network resources as you can! :)
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