It's not that simple

I was reading some more of Erin Merryn's book last night. I'm at a part of the book where it's been several years since she came out about the abuse, yet she is having horrible flashbacks and nightmares. It gets so bad for her, that she attempts suicide with a bottle of Tylenol - but realizes this isn't what she wants to do, and forces herself to regurgitate the pills. She is cutting herself to numb the pain, and feels there is no end to her misery. She confides in a friend and asks the friend not to tell anyone, but thankfully the friend does.  She is at the school counselor's office and her mother gets called in to meet her there - her mother says "Is this the Brian thing still? I thought you were doing so much better?".  Now, her mother has been so good through all of this but .. "Brian thing"? and "Still"?.  Those words hit hard. How belittling to what she is going through - underscores the extent of the harm that sexual abuse causes, and how little people realize.  I know that Joel has heard similar things. It's just not that simple!!! You don't just 'get over' this. This is TRAUMATIC.. and Erin as did Joel suffer post-traumatic stress disorder.  I imagine a solider at war, the horrible horrible things he must see and experience, the Trauma, and we are familiar with the post traumatic stress disorder that results.  as do those that are abused - the horror at such a young age! the disturbing events that we won't even talk about that they have endured and suffer with.  How can we possibly say "You aren't over that yet"? Seriously? It's just not that simple.

Let's break open the Silence!!!

~ Suz