Guest Author - Kelli Deister
This article is specifically for those that are currently victims of child abuse. I have received some emails from teenagers that are either experiencing child abuse currently, or have in the past two years. Quite honestly, these are always the hardest emails for me to read because these young ones are experiencing the abuse now. It breaks my heart to hear of what they have endured recently, or are currently enduring.
I would like to commend and applaud those teenagers that have reached out to me through emails. Our conversations will always remain private and the personal information will never be shared. I take it very seriously when you contact me and will never do anything to break that trust. Thank you for contacting me. You are absolutely courageous and deserve to be commended for your courage and strength.
I remember when I was your age. I grew up in the mid 60’s and 70’s and there just weren’t the available resources for help that there are today. We lived in a small town and everyone knew everyone else. I couldn’t go to a teacher or a counselor for help. I wanted to go to someone so desperately. I just didn’t know who I could go to for help and guidance in my situation.
I do remember one particular teacher that I had. She pulled me aside one day and asked me if everything was okay at home. She told me that I seemed distracted and was concerned that I was having trouble following her lessons in class. She told me that if I ever needed to talk to her, I could. However, I didn’t even know how to begin to tell her. Things were such a mess at home! I never forgot that teacher and the obvious fact that she cared about me.
The services of therapists, when I was a child, were not advertised and recommended like they are now. As a matter of fact, if a person went to a therapist when I was growing up, there were certain stereotypes that followed them.
In current times, there are a wide variety of resources available for you to get help. I promise that I will do all that I can do, to help you find those resources, should you want the help. In the meantime, know that you can always email me privately and I will respond. I will always be here for you, to listen to you and support you. I know what it’s like to be abused as a child. I understand the pain one feels when being abused. I understand the difficulties, such as flashbacks and nightmares.
I want to encourage you, if you are interested, to feel free to visit the Child Abuse forum here at BellaOnline. There are many members of this forum that have been abused as children and I’m sure they would be more than willing to help support you as you journey towards healing. If you decide to become a member of the forum, please pick a user name that no one else will know. It is important to remain anonymous on these forums. It is for your own safety. It is entirely up to you what information you share. There is no judgment on this forum. You are free to share what is on your heart. You are free to ask questions. You are also free to share resources that you have become aware of, in order to help other teens enduring child abuse.
I also want to encourage you to read past articles I have written on the Child Abuse site. It is my hope that the articles will help encourage you to reach out for help, so that you can be safe and no longer abused. I believe you have the courage and the strength within you to reach out for help. I believe you deserve to live a life free from abuse of any kind.
You are a person of value. This has become a very important statement to me because in 2003, a very special aunty of mine, who knew of the abuse I had endured, sat me down one day while I was crying and said that statement to me. It hit me in my heart and from that day on; whenever I struggled, I would think of that encouraging statement and repeat it to myself. Now, I am telling you the same thing, because I believe in the power of affirmations. I also believe that you are truly a person of value.
I look forward to talking with you more and hopefully becoming a resource of support for you.
