The grandparents I spent any time with were my mother's parents. My mom learned a lot from them. They seemed to be pretty much the same way...but they did let me watch tv more often. No physical beatings but they were what I would consider emotionally abusive.

That type of behavior persisted throughout my younger years...comments as to my "BADNESS"...the "worst kid in the world" type of comments.

I wanted an objective viewpoint based only on that letter since that is one of very few written documents I have of my childhood. My current therapist said it was pertinent information. She lumped this letter (and the Visiting Nurse's summaries) into what she called a "History of Child Abuse"...A psychologist had used the child abuse term before I dug up this letter. Before the letter I had only the memories of what my mom said...most of them later in my childhood.

Since then I have gathered many diagnoses...depression...ADHD...anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and most recently OCD and PTSD).

PTSD is the one diagnosis most closely related to my posting of the letter. My therapist and the psychologist I saw said the PTSD is related to the "History of Child Abuse".

I suppose that was my main question...is the letter consistent with the term "History of Child Abuse".

Thanks...John