My letter to the paper
Well I finaly got my letter to the paper done ,droped it off on Monday morring talked with the editor for half hour only to be told today that they may not publish it. I didn,t bring up any facts about my SA just talk about the effects of SA and the need to heal. Talked on the phone today with the editor and was told it may raise too many eyebrow"s and that I sounded like I was an expert on the topic, What the fuck do they want. My old home town is mid size 25000 people and the paper is afraid that too many people would get upset by it . Just don,t understand.
I would like to thanks the people that helped me on this . A special thanks to Gary who worked with me last Sunday for many Hours. Here ,s the letter.
Recovering from male childhood sexual abuse
Society still responds to instances of child sexual abuse as if each were an exception from the way things are. We have failed to understand the enormity of this evil and how profoundly it affects the child. It doesnt matter if the perpetrator is a winning coach, an outstanding scoutmaster, an inspiring teacher, a great provider for your family, a beloved priest, a helpful neighbor, or a nurturing uncle; what they did was evil.
Childhood trauma dramatically affects both the structure and chemistry of the developing brain, Sexual abuse can damage key brain structures associated with rational thinking, memories and emotions. These biochemical imbalances can have profound implications leading to depression and impulsive aggression. The more time that elapses between the abuse and the beginning of treatment the more entrenched the neurological abnormalities manifest themselves.
Be it the coercion of a young, naive child or in the form of violence, sexual abuse is the most elemental violation of ones humanity. Secrecy is the cement that holds the victim down and keeps him from seeking help. It allows sexual abuse of children to continue despite the presence of concerned family, friends, and neighbors and the
existence of child protective legislation. Males may be more damaged by societys refusal or reluctance to accept their victimization and by their resultant belief that they must tough it out on their own. Most victims will remain hidden in silence, held there by guilt and shame however the child did nothing wrong, the evil was done unto him. The guilt and shame belongs to the perpetrator.
As time progresses and the child matures, they can become very angry and lonely. They have lost their childhood and in the process, learned to trust no one. For many children the memories of the sexual abuse is pushed deep down into the darkest corner of the brain only to resurface many years later in flashbacks. When triggered, these memories may appear as isolated fragments or in many instances, flood the victim with visions from the past. If it is not enough to experience the initial abuse, most victims
will relive the trauma for years until the silence is finally broken.
Sadly, the effect of internalizing these events and not speaking out may result in a variety of negative behaviour patterns including: alcohol and drug addictions, depression, despair, low self-esteem, nightmares, memory loss, sleep disorders, lack of intimacy, and sexual dysfunction. To break themselves from this cycle the victim must speak up and be heard.
By ending the silence we begin the healing and move from being a victim to becoming a survivor. Truthtelling is the process through which we recover real power and free ourselves from the tyranny of the past. As a survivors the healing prosess can be a wild roller coaster ride as we purge the memories of the past abuse.This emotional release is a very beautiful and a healthy thing. With professional help from a Therapist the survivors learns to navigate through the many stages of healing on the road to re
gaining our true life. A life which is no longer controlled by the effects of the sexual abuse.
It is important that all victims come forward, no matter how long ago the abuse took place, to be heard and join other survivors in the healing process. If all victims stand together as survivors, we can make changes that will protect todays children from the evil we were subjucted to.
Teach all the children to never hide in silence. It is the Time to Heal. Thank you
I would like to thanks the people that helped me on this . A special thanks to Gary who worked with me last Sunday for many Hours. Here ,s the letter.
Recovering from male childhood sexual abuse
Society still responds to instances of child sexual abuse as if each were an exception from the way things are. We have failed to understand the enormity of this evil and how profoundly it affects the child. It doesnt matter if the perpetrator is a winning coach, an outstanding scoutmaster, an inspiring teacher, a great provider for your family, a beloved priest, a helpful neighbor, or a nurturing uncle; what they did was evil.
Childhood trauma dramatically affects both the structure and chemistry of the developing brain, Sexual abuse can damage key brain structures associated with rational thinking, memories and emotions. These biochemical imbalances can have profound implications leading to depression and impulsive aggression. The more time that elapses between the abuse and the beginning of treatment the more entrenched the neurological abnormalities manifest themselves.
Be it the coercion of a young, naive child or in the form of violence, sexual abuse is the most elemental violation of ones humanity. Secrecy is the cement that holds the victim down and keeps him from seeking help. It allows sexual abuse of children to continue despite the presence of concerned family, friends, and neighbors and the
existence of child protective legislation. Males may be more damaged by societys refusal or reluctance to accept their victimization and by their resultant belief that they must tough it out on their own. Most victims will remain hidden in silence, held there by guilt and shame however the child did nothing wrong, the evil was done unto him. The guilt and shame belongs to the perpetrator.
As time progresses and the child matures, they can become very angry and lonely. They have lost their childhood and in the process, learned to trust no one. For many children the memories of the sexual abuse is pushed deep down into the darkest corner of the brain only to resurface many years later in flashbacks. When triggered, these memories may appear as isolated fragments or in many instances, flood the victim with visions from the past. If it is not enough to experience the initial abuse, most victims
will relive the trauma for years until the silence is finally broken.
Sadly, the effect of internalizing these events and not speaking out may result in a variety of negative behaviour patterns including: alcohol and drug addictions, depression, despair, low self-esteem, nightmares, memory loss, sleep disorders, lack of intimacy, and sexual dysfunction. To break themselves from this cycle the victim must speak up and be heard.
By ending the silence we begin the healing and move from being a victim to becoming a survivor. Truthtelling is the process through which we recover real power and free ourselves from the tyranny of the past. As a survivors the healing prosess can be a wild roller coaster ride as we purge the memories of the past abuse.This emotional release is a very beautiful and a healthy thing. With professional help from a Therapist the survivors learns to navigate through the many stages of healing on the road to re
gaining our true life. A life which is no longer controlled by the effects of the sexual abuse.
It is important that all victims come forward, no matter how long ago the abuse took place, to be heard and join other survivors in the healing process. If all victims stand together as survivors, we can make changes that will protect todays children from the evil we were subjucted to.
Teach all the children to never hide in silence. It is the Time to Heal. Thank you
