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Old Nov 07, 2014, 09:28 PM
lifetimemeds lifetimemeds is offline
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Member Since: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 39
It is abuse if you felt it was at the time. I don't think it does any good to go back and pin labels on past experiences if the didn't feel that way at the time. I have spent decades in therapy over childhood sexual abuse. But I would certainly not go hunting for more events in my life to add more abuse.

If the interactions back then were not perceived as a negative experiences to you, why make it so now. As adults we have more knowledge about sexuality and the world in general. When we apply adult perceptions to childhood memories, we can transform benign experiences into horrendous abuse in our minds. Don't go there. Many therapists in previous decades have created false memories labeled as repressed memories. If your therapist is on a fishing expedition to find abuse in your past, you will spend many, many hours discussing childhood events and molding them into abuse. Be careful when you go fishing with your therapist. You may suddenly find abuse in every aspect of your life.

I have been through that and it totally ruins every nice, fond memory you have of your childhood. Every holiday you spend with family becomes torture to you. Even a "nice to see you" hug makes you feel squirrelly. A look or glance becomes suspect and before you know it, you can't stand to spend time with family with visions of abuse in every action.
Thanks for this!
*PeaceLily*