I often feel this same way. I'm not sure if it's true or not for everyone. I guess it depends on where you are in your head. I do feel this way most of the time though.

It's really becoming clear to me as I've ben seeking help and working on healing and recovery the past year that I've been just totally screwed right the hell up because of what my dad did to me when i was a child. I mean it just messes up your trust, your self worth, your ability to love and be loved, to get close to people, everything. I didn't know or think that It really bothered me that much, I had no idea how much it really did mess me up and is like the root of all my other problems, depression, alcoholism, borderline personality disorder, relationship problems, low self worth, sexual problems, self destructiveness etc. Damage is done to your very soul. But healing is possible and I'm on my way. God bless

Oh yeah...I feel that way all the time. The abuse lasted about 3 years - but the effects have lasted 30 + years. After the shock of the first few times, the abuse did not seem that bad, really something just to be tolerated, and then after awhile it was actually something I "liked" - I say liked because at that point I think I was already having big problems and I had started cutting.

Peace and Blessings...

yes definatly although I survived a knife in the chest I have still tried to overdose. And the worst thing about it is that no one around you understands why you are suffering and why you do these things to yourself because they have never experienced what we have been through.

I find the effects are worse for me, Its diffrent for me then most other on here, I have always remembered the abuse.

My issues are I dont remember any the rest of my childhood, I dont rember school birthdays or most other holiday. I know I had them, I rember going to summer camp, but I dont remember and of the details.

and of course there are the other effects where I wont let anyone get close to me, they try and I push away.

The abuse itself, mabey if I didnt remember it, then it might bother me more

In a word...yes

The way I think about it is that the abuse caused me to make many mistakes and bad decisions, once I was old enough to make decisions that I think I would not have if the abuse had not happened.
It's the "If Only" conversation that I have all too often with myself. It does not serve me well. It puts me on a spiral that is hard to get out of.

Defiantly the affects are worse than the actual abuse. Physically I don't really have any damage but mentally.... that's where the real damage was done!! Thats what stays with you and affects your life.