Welcome. Sharing, reading and learning from others is some of what one can do about it to start healing. You will find that many of us feel exactly the same.

Many of us go to individual counseling, but support groups like this are also part of the process of healing. Please read and feel free to ask questions.

I for once had an alcoholic father until I was 7 but then he "found the lord" and replaced alcohol with the Bible (not in a good way). He was as abusive and violent as ever, only that then he had "God" on his side to abuse us (according to him).

You will find as you read that many people have been submitted to many different forms and degrees of abuse, but we all have the same thing in common which is that today it still affects our lives.

My Dad was an Alcoholic when I was in My Teens. He would stay up at Night at the Kitchen Table Drinking Beer & Listening to His Country Music when He wasn't attending College Or at His Job. He would try to Get one of US kids to stay up with Him & We would tell Him NO because We had to go to school the Very Next Day. My Dad was a Different type of Alcoholic. He was Very Sweet when He Drank then when He wasn 't Drinking. He was Physically, Emotionally, & Mentally Abusive. I didn' t understand until a Friend of My showed Me a Book about alcoholics when I was around 20 yrs. Old then I Realized HE was an Alcoholic. Thanks for Your story & I am sorry that You had to suffer. You don't Derseve that. God Bless You & Hugs, Hugs & hugs.

Welcome to the board, Bob.

I did not have alcoholic or drug using parents, but I was emotionally abused just the same. So, while I really don't have too much to add to what has already been said, I will tell you that I did drugs to numb away my pain. I've been sober for over 11 years. So, if you need to talk about that as well, feel free. Adult survivors of childhood abuse use a variety of self-destructive coping skills and it is essential that we replace them with healthier ones.

Welcome to the group, BobInMaine. I had a mother who abused prescription drugs. We're a mutual support group made up of child abuse survivors. Although there are no professionals in the group - by design - we each know a little about coping with it, and together, we know a lot, so we benefit from each other's knowledge. Thank you for joining us.

Welcome. You will find a lot of good people here, who know what you are going though. I as a kid was mostly left alone by my parents, and I suffered abuse from a few cousins, my sister, and a next door neighbor. My father used to slap me in the face, and one time did it so hard my nose bled. He had anger issues, and scared the shit out of me when he came back. I hope this place helps you like it does me!