Monday's PSA Message

Today’s rant is on the subject of child abuse. There are many levels of child abuse but regardless of how it happens, it affects every aspect of life including future relationships. Abused children grow up lacking self-worth, self-confidence, and do not easily trust others. It is a horrid cycle that can be broken if stopped early enough.

Alcoholism and drug abuse are the leading causes of child abuse. Abusers are not limited to any social class, race, ethnic background, or religion. Abusers are in all walks of life and all financial classes. Abuse eats away at the family unit until nothing is left except for resentment, pain, and sometimes even death.

Today there are all sorts of programs available to provide help. Battered women’s shelters can provide emergency shelter. Alcoholic anonymous is available to help alcoholics beat the disease of alcoholism. ALCOA is a group to help adult children of alcoholics. There are groups for spouses of alcoholics. The justice system offers restraining orders, criminal charges, emergency custody orders, etc…. The realm of help is unending. The department of social services offers many programs for those who are abused. Help is even available for elder abuse, which is becoming a growing problem in this country. This kind of help was not available thirty-plus years ago when I was growing up in the hell of child abuse. We ran when we could and took the beatings and verbal abuse when we were unable to leave. In today’s time, there is no reason for staying with an abuser.

One of the saddest things about growing up in an abusive home is that it perpetuates the problem. Children of abuse have a much higher chance of growing up only to become abusers themselves. I consider myself fortunate to have broken the cycle of abuse in my lifetime through the aid of groups such as ALCOA and intensive therapy. However, even leaving the abusive person and getting treatment will not remove the scars of the past. It has been many years since my personal experiences of abuse suffered at the hands of my very on father. To this day, I still have flashbacks and difficulty moving beyond the abuse. Close relationships require hard work on my part. Controlling anger is a constant battle. The tendency to strike out remains ever-present, just under the skin if you will.

If you or anyone you know is in an abusive relationship, offer help. Get the person to someone who can help. Contact your local DSS office, sheriff’s office, or police department for options. Abuse is everyone’s problem. Nobody has to live this way. Children can always tell their teachers, principal, or guidance counselor. This cycle has to stop somewhere. The sooner it stops, the better it is for everyone involved. Seek help. Do what must be done to ensure no child or spouse is ever abused again. Speaking out is the only way to stop it. Even power companies and postal workers are safe persons to speak to now.

Speaking out about abuse is the right thing to do. It is everyone’s responsibility to make this world safe for all. It only takes one person to stop a cycle of abuse. Do your part and save a person who is being abused. You will be glad you did and so will I. Abuse has gone on for far too long. It is time for abuse to become a thing of the past. It needs to be abolished.