A statement regarding mental health

Just setting the record straight and for those who do not like my views or opinions that's fine just ignore but this is something I want to say, thank you.

Many people have mental health issues because they have been abused. If you are abused as a child this has a very detrimental effect on your mental health as a child and as an adult. Mental health issues come from emotional pain and distress. Often this is because of the abuse they have suffered in their life and is more apparent if it has happened from a young age. If you've suffered as a child from abuse such as emotional abuse, physical abuse or sexual abuse, this is going to have a massive impact on the rest of your life!

There are some people, even professionals who get it wrong, they think, oh they have a mental health problem therefore they are saying it's from abuse, let's not believe it and let's not face the truth.

The truth is, if you have been abused (especially as a child and beyond) then it is likely to have caused emotional trauma and distress. You may even be in denial about it. Unfortunately the impact of that abuse lasts a lifetime and it makes you more vulnerable to being abused throughout your life. Therapy can help you become stronger and realise that the abuse was not your fault but the scars are always there and it does leave you vulnerable to further abuse. Sorry to be pessimistic but reality needs to be dealt with so you can be ready for whatever crap comes along!

As a child, I was so quiet and self conscious -- I always felt that the emotional nurturing I so wanted from my family was never given to me. I felt quite alone and was left to fend for myself with many emotional issues that I wished someone had been there for me for this type of support.

As a result, worry and anxiety started in my early teen years and grew in to panic attacks and social anxiety late in my teens and young adult life

I have always felt that this was a form of emotional abuse, in that I was neglected -- I was never verbally abused as a child, but I was not nurtured in an emotional sense either -- to me, I felt ignored -- as in "children should be seen and not heard" How true that was for my generation -- I will be 68 in a few months

To this day, there are many every day happenings that are so difficult for me to deal with -- lack of emotional support from a distant mother and the death of my father when I was 14 were very difficult issues for me

Thanks, Pegasus

Hugs

Linda

Totally agree Pegasus.

Well, lets not take some experiences and make them universal... I know many people with totally ****ed up childhoods who are now mentally stable and actually happier than most of the people I know... It doesnt have to be a lifetime of being damaged...

I see nothing in pegasus's post that implied it was universal.

I do not agree with this part of what you stated.
The impact of abuse can last a lifetime if you let it. It can also be worked on and you can come out the other end stronger for it.
Yes scars will remain, they don't go away. They can have less of an impact on your life and may help you help others.
I do not agree that they leave you vulnerable to further abuse. I believe I am less vulnerable to abuse as I am much more aware when I see it happening.

Just like you, this is just my opinion. I am neither right nor wrong. I just know me and what I have accomplished.