National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
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NAASCA Highlights
EDITOR'S NOTE: Occasionally we bring you articles from local newspapers, web sites and other sources that constitute but a small percentage of the information available to those who are interested in the issues of child abuse and recovery from it.
We present articles such as this simply as a convenience to our readership ...
by Jessica Stevens, co-host of NAASCA's "Stop Child Abuse Now" (SCAN) talk radio show
EDITOR'S NOTE: We are delighted to have the ongoing participation of our own Jessica Stevens both on our Internet-based talk radio shows and here on the NAASCA web site.
This is a section specifically devoted to the causes, issues, articles and other materials she wishes available for those who are interested in helping resolve the epidemic of child abuse in America.
Jessica, a resident of north Florida, is herself an "adult survivor" of severe violent and sexual child abuse, all at the hands of family members. Yet she has broken the cycle.
She's a mom to two fine young men in their 20s. Her boys are among her biggest fans, and we know they consider themselves fortunate (as indeed they are) to have a mom like Jessica.
from MJ -- Here's another video from Dr Drew. It aired last evening and featured Tom Arnold, I was surprised at what a good job he did. Tom was really spot on with what we've been saying. Also, the point was made that there aren't many good resources for adult survivors of child abuse. Think they should be told about us???
Dr Drew show - featuring Tom Arnold talking about sex abuse in his childhood
If you are interested, the Dr. Phil show airing tomorrow, Friday November 18th is covering the recent events that took place at Penn State. http://www.drphil.com/
DANCE MOMS - (Video of Season 1: Episode 3 "Cheerleader Blues." Original air date: 07/27/11) - The Dance Moms need to win this week's
competition to stay in the game, but chaos ensues when Mom Kelly's daughter wants to drop out of dance as she's hurt her hip and she just
wants to be a cheerleader. Kelly works hard to convince her daughter to stay in dance, pushing her so far that she risks permanent injuries.
When two people come together in Matrimony, they take vows in front of God and witnesses. They vow to be faithful, forsake all others, in sickeness and in health, through good and bad, to have and to hold from this day forward, for richer and for poorer. To honor you everyday of our lives, til death do us part. However through lives up and downs most people forget what they said that special day only to find themselves, ending the relationship for numerous reasons, money, infidelity, etc. Others through trying times will seek counceling, try to work things out, get back what they once had because maybe they feel that its worth saving. Some may just end it cos its so broken that nothing is worth saving at this point, or maybe they did give it all they had and just wasn't working. Some end up good and some bad. You can replace a man and a woman when marriage to one another doesn't work out, but you CAN"T replace a CHILD.
What about when you decide to become a parent? Shouldn't we make a vow to our child?
The promise
I promise to be there for you, through good and the bad times.
I promise to always protect you and keep you from harm
I promise never to put anyone before you
I promise to be patient through trying times
I promise to be there in sickness and in health
I promise to provide the best I can so you won't do without
I promise to be your friend when you need to talk
I promise to be the parent that guides you so you can grow
I promise to be the teacher so you can learn
I promise to be your coach so you can be strong
I promise my child, right here and now, as God as my witness
to be the best parent I can be. You are the most precious gift God
has given me and as I face my new responsibilities, rest assure
my child that in my arms I promise to keep you safe, loved and strong
for as long as I /we shall live.
5-Month-Old Girl Allegedly Abused By Father Dies - COON RAPIDS, Minn. (WCCO) — The 5-month-old girl allegedly abused by her 25-year-old Coon Rapids father has died. The Anoka County Sheriff's Department said the child died at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, after suffering traumatic brain injury. Joshua Allen Vanhoutan had been charged with first-degree assault and two counts of malicious punishment of a child. With the child's death, officials say the charges will be re-visited by the Anoka County Attorney's Office. According to the criminal complaint, Vanhoutan called the child's mother while she was at work the morning of May 11 and told her something was wrong. He said their child was unresponsive and her arms were frail.
What to Do If Your Child Discloses Sexual Abuse - Information for Parents and Caregivers - Disclosure is when a child tells another person that he or she has been sexually abused. Disclosure can be a scary and difficult process for children. Some children who have been sexually abused may take weeks, months, or even years to fully reveal what was done to them. Many children never tell anyone about the abuse. In general: Girls are more likely to disclose than boys, School-aged children tend to tell a caregiver, Adolescents are more likely to tell friends, Very young children tend to accidentally reveal abuse, because they don’t have as much understanding of what occurred or the words to explain it (pfd file).
Child Abuse May Lead to Adult Migraines and Pain Disorders - Researchers from the American Headache Society's Women's Issues Section Research Consortium found that children who were abused and neglected have higher incidence of migraines and pain disorders. In addition, the same research has found that people who suffer from migraines and have a history of abuse tend to show more signs of adjacent, related conditions than patients without such a history. The findings carry considerable implications, and should be of use to policymakers in designing new laws to protect children from their own parents or relatives. Dr. Gretchen E. Tietjen, M.D, from the University of Toledo Medical Center, and colleagues, did a cross-sectional survey of headache clinic patients with physician-diagnosed migraine at 11 outpatient headache centers. The Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), a 28-item self-reported quantitative measure of childhood abuse (physical, sexual, and emotional) and neglect (physical and emotional) was given to 1348 participants to fill out.
Adult Migraine, Childhood Abuse?
Here's a video produced by Global Medical News which discusses the evidence that's emerging that suggests a correlation between the emergence of adult migraines and other pain and the experience of childhood abuse.
These studies seem to support the notion that many adult illnesses may have a relationship to the ongoing stress that's a result of traumas that occurred in the distant past.
Chronic fatigue, irritable bowel, fibromyalgia linked with previous child abuse - Children who are physically abused tend to have higher rates of “functional somatic syndromes” such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome when they grow up, says a study published in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma. Functional somatic syndromes are conditions where there are physical symptoms but no findings on blood or imaging tests. Chronic fatigue syndrome has symptoms of severe fatigue, memory and sleep problems, and pain in muscles and joints. Fibromyalgia is continual widespread pain throughout the body. Irritable bowel syndrome is abdominal pain with diarrhea or constipation.
Fibromyalgia and Child Abuse - I didn't grow up knowing that I wanted to work with kids. I wasn't the neighborhood babysitter and I didn't take care of cousins. Instead I worked all through high school in a nursing home and convened the Elderly Outreach program at Tufts University my first year. But I spent a summer working at a camp for children with sever emotional challenges, many as a result of abuse. My heart ached that summer, my eyes were opened to life's injustices and my life changed forever. 18 years later I am still working with children and youth. The blog post quoted below spoke to me because it speaks honestly and plainly about two invisible dynamics in people's lives, chronic illness and child abuse. The author, Kathi, makes herself vulnerable to help us understand how the two dynamics are related in people's lives and experiences. Thank you Kathi for writing this post and for allowing us to repost it here. You can see the original post with some additional resources at Banishing the Shame.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms - The Monster List of Fibromyalgia Symptoms! - You've probably read about fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain, fatigue and fibro fog, but the list of possible signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia are far-reaching and body-wide. Those tiny lists don't even begin to describe our experience! I put together this "monster list" of 60+ fibromyalgia symptoms to let you know that you're not alone! The list is adapted from one put together by fibromyalgia expert Devin Starlanyl along with recent research. Many of these fibromyalgia symptoms also can be caused by other ailments and this list isn't intended as a diagnostic tool. Knowing the full range of symptoms, however, can help you track them either to help your doctor diagnose you properly or to help you identify triggers.
Father in 'toxic truck' case says girl tried to poison him - MIAMI - A father charged with killing his 10-year-old daughter whose body was found in his truck covered in chemicals told authorities the girl tried to poison him by putting baby oil in his soda, according to court documents released late Wednesday. Jorge Barahona told police that Nubia died at their Miami home, but didn't say how. He said he gave Nubia and her twin brother, Victor, allergy and sleeping medicine to sedate them in the days before Feb. 14, when the children the couple had adopted were discovered in his truck alongside Interstate 95 in Palm Beach County.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation - Perhaps the most difficult aspect of recognizing the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect is that individuals with developmental disabilities may exhibit certain physical and/or behavioral traits due to the nature of their disability. Therefore, it is very important to recognize changes in behavior or health (particularly those not typically associated with the individual's disability) as potential abuse indicators. It is also important to note that there is no universal response to abuse or neglect.
Sexual Abuse & Incest - Sexual abuse involves forcing, tricking, threatening or pressuring a child into sexual awareness or activity. Sexual abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional, and occurs when an older or more knowledgeable child or adult uses a child for sexual pleasure. The abuse often begins gradually and increases over time. It can include sexual touching and fondling or exposing children to adult sexual activity including pornographic movies and photographs. Incest is defined as sexual relations of any kind perpetrated by a biologically or non-biologically related person functioning in the role of a family member. Other trusted adults could also sexually abuse children and teenagers. These include parents, uncles, aunts, siblings, stepparents, grandparents, coaches, baby sitters, clergy and teachers.
Letting Go Of Your Past - Moving On With Life - Letting go of your past can include coping with death, divorce, or a breakup. These suggestions for moving on with life will help you say good-bye and let go. Letting go of your past – whether that means quitting an addictive relationship or grieving a death – can be one of the hardest things you'll ever do. Even if it was an unhealthy relationship, you may still struggle to move on with your life. It's not easy, but there are practical ways to let go of your past. Before you delve into letting go and saying good-bye to your past, however, you may need to face your memories and experiences.
Ways to Cope with Past Child Abuse - Decades after child abuse is over, people still suffer from depression, migraines, addictions and more use of health care services. Here's 5 ways to deal with past abuse. The long-term effects of child abuse don't disappear when the sexual, physical, or emotional abuse is over. Adult survivors of abusive childhood relationships use more health care services and may be more likely to struggle with depression, migraines, and smoking habits.
Women: Recognizing the effects of abuse-related trauma - Sometimes when a woman seeks help, the care provider may not link her reactions with abuse-related trauma. Women can be wrongly diagnosed and given unhelpful treatments, including some types of medicines. Often, the care provider sees the trauma effects (e.g., substance use, depression) as the problem, rather than as a result of trauma.
Sexual Abuse: Surviving the Pain - Reported incidents of child sexual abuse are markedly on the rise. What is especially shocking is the fact that these reports represent only a small portion of actual occurrences of sexual abuse. Incest affects individuals and families regardless of class, income, profession, religion or race. The statistics are truly alarming. It is currently estimated that one-third of all children are sexually abused before the age of 18. This includes 40% of all females and 30% of all males. The vast majority of these reports involve very young children, below age seven.
Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse - Sexual abuse represents any kind of sexual contact between an adult or older teen and a child. This behavior is used to gain power over the child and often involves a betrayal of the child's trust. There are many types of sexual abuse, some include physical contact or touching offenses. This includes fondling, touching sexual organs, masturbation, making the child touch the adult sexually, and vaginal or anal penetration with self or objects. Non touching offenses include exposing a child to pornographic material, indecent exposure, leering and deliberately putting the child in the position of having to witness an act of sexual intercourse.
All adults need to help deal with child abuse - We wish all children grew up in a safe, secure, trustworthy home and neighborhood, where they were sure to be well fed, well loved and well protected. That's the fuel kids need in order to like themselves, trust others and work for success. The reality for our children and the consequences for all of us are far more ominous. Here are some facts about child abuse and neglect, as well as action steps we all can take to help the children in our lives.
The Girl in the Window - The family had lived in the rundown rental house for almost three years when someone first saw a child's face in the window. A little girl, pale, with dark eyes, lifted a dirty blanket above the broken glass and peered out, one neighbor remembered. Everyone knew a woman lived in the house with her boyfriend and two adult sons. But they had never seen a child there, had never noticed anyone playing in the overgrown yard. The girl looked young, 5 or 6, and thin. Too thin. Her cheeks seemed sunken; her eyes were lost. The child stared into the square of sunlight, then slipped away. Months went by. The face never reappeared.
