adult survivors of child sexual abuse

Adult Survivors Of Child Sexual Abuse

Adapted and Modified by: Suzette Misrachi, from the book, “The Courage To Heal” by Bass and Davis (1992)

Healing is a continuum that starts survival and ends with thriving. The length of time between this continuum varies enormously depending on various things. For example,

• length of time over which the abuse took place

• your age as a child when the abuse began

• presence or absence of emotional support in your environment at the time of the abuse

• other significant events occurring simultaneous to the abuse in your life

• your unique internal resources and strengths etc.

According to Bass and Davis (1992), the following are stages on a healing continuum. However, I prefer to view them as ‘phases’ which can be re-visited at anytime as each new layer of strength within you progresses:

• the decision to heal

• the emergency stage – preoccupation or obsessive thinking

• remembering

• believing it happened

• breaking the silence

• understanding that it wasn’t your fault

• making contact with the child within (and possibly the re-parenting process of the self)

• trusting yourself

• grieving and mourning

• anger – the backbone of healing

• disclosures and confrontations

• forgiveness?

• spirituality

• resolution and moving towards a better existence

Remember grief has no time table and needs to be honoured. Supports do exist at any stage of healing:

CASA (Centre Against Sexual Assault) Tel: (03) 9347 3066 After Hours:

(03)9349 1766

CASA Free phone: 1800 806 292

Suicide Help Line 1300 651 251

Life Line: 131114

Grief Line: 9596 7799 (12 hour telephone support 12.00 pm to 3.00 am daily)

See http://www.whin.org.au/intro.html Click on: Quick Reference Guide