274 Quotes About Abuse-survivors

Yes, we forgive you, Daddy!' we chorus. We have to forgive him, we've got to see him every day, life’s going to be even more uncomfortable if we don’t forgive him; it’s a matter of survival. We just want everything to be all right, or seem to be all right.

Pain expanded my heart.

The skin on her upper arms prickled like it’d done so many times back in Jeddah, a sign to be careful.

It gave their families at home great comfort to see them chatting, looking radiant, doing well. ‘We are fine, mothers. Look how happy we are, now we free from our bad bosses.

Life on earth has sharp teeth.

Few survivors experience spontaneous recall especially if they have no awareness of the abuse ever happening. Most are forced to endure months or years of fear, confusion, and doubt as their memories surface. Dreams, imagery, feelings, and physical symptoms must be painstakingly faced and pieced together into a meaningful whole that the survivor struggles to accept as reality.

As we grow older, the riveting, dis-empowering feelings that grabbed us during moments of our abuse do not change with knowledge, awareness, or new experiences. They are locked inside until we return to release them.

When we learn to recognize the unique quality of Memory-Dreams, we are empowered. The abused child within us is using them to talk to us, giving us clues for our healing.

You pray for forgiveness. You pray for it to stop, for life, and even death. You pray for rain to wash away your sins and drown your soul. Till you finally just stop asking. Cause nobodies listening.