I’m haunted by my abusive childhood – will I ever move on?
DEAR DEIDRE: DESPITE building an amazing life for myself, I’m still haunted by my abusive childhood.
All I want is to move on and leave it in the past, but any time I have a second to think, my mind wanders back.
I’m a 50-year-old man and growing up, my mum was very mentally unstable. She was diagnosed with depression, was bipolar and an alcoholic.
She struggled to even care for my basic needs and would often verbally and physically abuse me.
Whether it was burning me with cigarettes, forcing me into cold showers or calling me countless names, she left me feeling worthless.
I thought I would have moved on from it by now but I’m still so depressed and anxious.
I worry that things will never get better. Please help.
Get in touch with the Dear Deidre team
Every problem gets a personal reply from one of our trained counsellors.
Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you.
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DEIDRE SAYS: What your mother did to you was terrible and cruel, but it’s never too late to get the help you need to cope with what happened to you.
Very often childhood abuse can leave emotional scars that feel just as real and painful as physical ones.
While nothing can change what happened to you, you can work on healing from the hurt she caused you.
My support pack Abused As A Child? will help you to work through your feelings.
You can also find help by talking with the NSPCC (nspcc.org.uk, 0808 800 5000).
