Dear MIRIAM: HAUNTED BY ABUSE.Byline: Dr MIRIAM STOPPARD Dear Miriam WHEN I was nine, I regularly slept over at my best friend's house. Her mum and dad were like second parents to me. Her older brother was 15 and sometimes touched me in ways I didn't like. He said I would get the whole family into trouble if I told anyone. He finally left me alone when he got a girlfriend. I've lived with this for 20 years. I've always suffered from low self-esteem and had relationship problems because of my anger and guilt. Can you help? YOU have lived through a terrible ordeal ordeal, ancient legal custom whereby an accused person was required to perform a test, the outcome of which decided the person's guilt or innocence. By an ordeal, appeal was made to divine authority to decide the guilt or innocence of one accused of a crime or to and all the guilt lies with your friend's brother. You have good reason to be angry. It can be hard to know what to do with these feelings. Getting everything off your chest and talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to someone who will understand could help the healing process. Call NAPAC NAPAC National Association for People Abused in Childhood (UK) NAPAC Northern AIDS Prevention and Care (National Association for People Abused in Childhood) on 0800 085 3330. Although you can't change your history, with time and care it's possible to minimise the negative effects. |
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