When you’ve survived childhood abuse, it’s common to carry emotional baggage with you into adulthood. And it makes sense — if the only messaging you received in your upbringing was abusive, it’s no wonder children who were abused grow up to have greater struggles with self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and mental health.
In addition to carrying harmful memories, abused children will often internalize lies about themselves that end up hurting them long into their adult lives.
If you’re a survivor of childhood abuse you need to know:
1. It wasn’t your fault.
”It’s not your fault. They will blame you for things you didn’t do and you will be yelled at for being who you are. Find a good outlet for all the anger you feel and just be you. You are worthy. You are beautiful. You are loved. Keep your head up high and things will get better one day, I promise” — Heather P.
2. You didn’t deserve what happened to you.
“It wasn’t normal. It wasn’t OK. I didn’t need to learn to live with it.” — Desirae W.
3. Your feelings are real and valid.
“I wish I knew I wasn’t being overly dramatic. My feelings were completely valid and being hurt by the way I was treated was to be expected since it was abuse, not normal behavior like I was brainwashed into thinking.” — Kacey K.
“You’re allowed to be angry and you’re allowed to cry.” — Abagail B.
4. You are more than enough.
“I would tell my younger self that I wasn’t the cause of the abuse because I was ‘too stupid’ or ‘too ugly’ or ‘too unworthy’ of love. I always thought I was the cause of everything because I made mom upset somehow. I now know I did nothing to cause any of the abuse. I didn’t deserve it. I was a child who needed love, understanding and guidance from someone who wasn’t able to provide that. That wasn’t my fault…” — Cheryl O.
Click here for the full article.