Abuse - Women

 

The Problem 

A history of abuse is a common background while the goal is to enter into or maintain recovery. Recovery is a two-fold process. The first step is healing from the traumas done to us in our past; and second step is healing from the influence these past experiences continue to have in our present lives.

(Most) Survivors of Physical / Sexual / Emotional Abuse . . .

•    Are hesitant to identify themselves as victims of abuse.

•    Feel isolated, depressed, worthless, and helpless to change.

•    Are struggling with feelings about God in relation to their life experiences of being abused.

•    Condemn themselves, denying that the past abuses affects their present circumstances.

•    Feel out of control and defeated in areas of compulsive behavior.

•    Feel angry, bitter, rebellious; have trouble with authority figures.

•    Feel a lack of self-worth.

•    Are preoccupied with thoughts of what it means to have a “normal” relationship with  
          others; mates, friends, family.

•    Question their own sexual identity and may experience confusion regarding their own 
          sexuality.

•    Desire to regain their sexuality and feel safe in intimate relationships. •    Question 
          self-reality; “Who am I?” •    Question whether life has a purpose. •    Feel “at home” in 
          crisis situations.

•    Struggle with perfectionism or “all or nothing thinking.”

 

 

The Solution

Survivors of Physical / Sexual / Emotional Abuse can experience recovery when . . .

•    We recognize that we are powerless to heal the damaged emotions resulting from our 
          abuse. We look to God for the power to make us whole.

•    We acknowledge that God’s plan for our lives includes victory over the experience of 
          abuse.

•    We understand that the persons who abused us are responsible for the abusive acts 
          committed against us. We will not accept the guilt and shame resulting from those 
          abusive acts.

•    We look to God and His Word to find our identity as worthwhile and loved human beings.

•    We are honestly sharing our feelings with God and at least one other person to help us 
          identify the areas that need cleansing and healing.

•    We accept the responsibility for our responses to abuse.

•    We are willing to accept God’s help in the decision and the process of forgiving ourselves 
          and those who have perpetrated against us.

•    We are willing to mature in our relationships with God and others.

•    We are willing to be used by God as an instrument of healing and restoration in the lives 
           of others.

 

•    Desire to have victory through Christ over the life experience of abuse.

“The Solution” is partially based upon the book Helping the Victims of Sexual Abuse by Lynn Heitritter and Jeanette Vought.