I was just thinking about this the other day, and I know I can get exact numbers in psych journals, etc., but I was wondering what you all think.

I am just wondering how much of our prior life effects are due to psych disorders we now have. I am thinking it could be a high percent but I know some may just be medical too, and some are temporary too. Plus some we don't know why.

But if the percentage is high due to prior trauma, abuse, etc, it seems like we should take a tougher stand against child abuse, and other violent abuse some have suffered even as adults.

I know we can't prevent natural disasters from happening, and there will always be some trauma people suffer. But the trauma caused by the hands of other, needs to be taken more seriously. It seems like tougher sentences or consequences would at least help. It bothers to see criminals who get a shorter sentence for child abuse then other not as serious crimes. Abuse effects a person forever.

I guess what has me thinking is partly I miss my brother, he died in Nov. (age 36) from complications due to earlier child abuse from my mom. She is off living a free life doing whatever when she is responsible for his death, and he is gone. He is no longer suffering the effects, but I feel the effects and have to live with some physical myself that will only get worse the older I get. So even with therapy, I can heal the mental trauma, but the physical harm she has done will not go away ever.

This is something I have been talking about in therapy. EMDR is helping a lot for the memories, but I can't afford the physical therapy for the rest of my life due to prior abuse. I have 2nd stage arthritis in my neck and I will always walk a little funny and I am only 39. I do what I can, I practice yoga, etc but the effects will always be there.

My T says that he wants me to eventually see that I am who I am and that is a special person, that part of which was caused by my abuse. He says I will be a very good T, who has compassion and empathy, due to what I have experienced. What can I do, I really don't have a choice other than to keep trying to heal.