Healing from Abuse. The Beginning

Healing from Abuse, The Beginning.

Psychological abuse, also referred to as psychological violence, emotional abuse or mental abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Physical abuse is any intentional act causing injury or trauma to another person or animal by way of bodily contact. In most cases, children are the victims of physical abuse, but adults can also be victims, as in cases of domestic violence or workplace aggression. Alternative terms sometimes used include physical assault or physical violence and may also include sexual abuse. Physical abuse may involve more than one abuser, and more than one victim.

Child abuse, whether emotional or physical has lasting effects.  Some scars are physical but just as bad, are the scars we carry with us, the scars no one can see or touch.

At the age of eight my brother was taken from us, I was two then.  He was taken not through death, but to an institution for the mentally challenged due to long term physical and emotional abuse.  We have yet to find anyone that asked questions or stepped in to help.  My brothers were hit, thrown, tied to clothes lines, and locked in closets.  The oldest got it worse than anyone.  The alleged abusers have died and are at peace now, but we are not, the wounds linger on.

The middle brother and I knew each other but were separated and for the most part led separate lives, like we didn’t exist as siblings, strangers at best, coasts apart.

Almost a lifetime passed then a miracle happened.  Call it fate, call it whatever you believe but it has changed lives.

I received a message one night asking if I was related to this woman, she was our mother.  Through faith, and curiosity, I called back.  It was a nephew I didn’t know I had and his wife, all now adults.  The emotions were of disbelief, the fear was back, the little girl I put behind me was back and didn’t know what to expect.  They were coming 3,000 miles to meet.

The encounter was amazing, it was like looking at myself. I was angry at all the time missed but still had all the questions about my oldest brother.  We went through what was left of my mother’s papers and found a document.  It was the court order to remove my brother and send him away.  Armed with this document we are on a mission to find the truth.  What we found within a few weeks was my brother.  He is safely tucked away in an institution for the mentally challenged.

I tell you this, not for sympathy, not for money, but for all the abuse survivors, if you are alone…someone is looking for you, someone that loves you no matter what.  Keep hoping, keep praying.

We are attending an annual family picnic where I will see my brother for the first time in 59 years.  My nephew, niece, great nephew, granddaughter, and great grandson are attending with me.  We skype with him every week and are thrilled.  His favorite is big mac’s and Dr. pepper.  He communicates with us, he smiles and laughs at us, I can’t wait to just hug him.  He has started the healing process for me…he is my miracle brother.

Stay tuned for our adventures.  To my nephew and niece, thank you.  But for you, I’d still wonder, where is my brother.

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