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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How do I overcome the overwhelming guilt I feel as my son was sexually abused by his step father which is causing my depression, anxiety, binge eating and drinking??

    Related Topics
    Anxiety Depression Eating Disorders
    I was a single parent, married when my son was 7. Had 2 more children with this person. My son left home abruptly as soon as he completed his HSC. 4yrs later I found out that my husband (his step father) had sexually & mentally abused him when he was 16 ending when he left home. Marriage finished as soon as I found out.

    I have spent the last 10yrs keeping my children sane. My other son has huge issues on being related to this monster & has been in drug rehab twice and he's only 23. Daughter doing ok on the surface. I have pretty much been in coping mode non stop for 10yrs. 12 months ago ex husband was sentenced to 7yrs prison (non parole 5yrs). Listening in detail what happened to my son, I can't cope with it.

    After sentencing I spent every morning with a knife at my wrist, I am depressed, have anxiety attacks, I am binge eating, drinking too much. I have told my gp, he referred me to a very young counselor which was no help. I was seeing a naturopath for menopause (as well) that helped a bit. My children are still going through a hard time & I am running out of ideas to help them. They have lost everything. I have found a wonderful relationship and have made myself a good life & that I feel I don't deserve as my kids deserve much better. No body wants to know about sexual abuse, nobody cares. His family have disowned my kids, they have done nothing. Nobody knows what to do. I don't know what to do anymore. I know I have to keep going for my kids, but when I see a phone call coming from them I panic as I know something is wrong again. I can't do this anymore but I promised my daughter I will always be there for her. I am so tired.
    • 1 answer
    • Bruni (Brunhilde) Brewin
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  • Bruni (Brunhilde) Brewin

    Counsellor, Hypnotherapist

    Bruni Brewin is President Emeritus of The Australian Hypnotherapists’ Association (AHA), the oldest and largest National Registration Body for hypnotherapists in Australia founded in 1949, … View Profile

    When you consider that when I was a Sexual Abuse Counsellor, that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused and that most abusers are known by the family you begin to realise this situation is quite prevelant.  Most mothers have a feeling that they should have known and that is not true.  The perpetrator has a way of making that time in secrecy and also of telling the abused that if the mother found out she would be sent away.. or the mother would not believe her… or what ever.  It is called grooming the child not to tell.  The child in turn could feel guilty as though it were her fault… she could feel dirty… ashamed… helpless… angry… and any other emotion not mentioned.  Both mother and child both need counselling and releasing those emotions.  EFT in the trance state would be helpful here.

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