On My Soapbox For Child Abuse

I could not believe what I read this morning in The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van der Kolk.  I'm loving this book so much.  He was sharing just how much early psychology textbooks missed the mark on the issue of child abuse and molestation.  So, I'm on my soapbox because I know some of these attitudes still exist out there.  Thank you Dr. Van der Kolk for exposing these things and talking about this subject.

Here's what he said about what was once taught on child molestation

Furthermore, the textbook said, “There is little agreement about the role of father-daughter incest as a source of serious subsequent psychopathology.” My patients with incest histories were hardly free of “subsequent psychopathology”— they were profoundly depressed, confused, and often engaged in bizarrely self-harmful behaviors, such as cutting themselves with razor blades. The textbook went on to practically endorse incest, explaining that “such incestuous activity diminishes the subject’s chance of psychosis and allows for a better adjustment to the external world.” 9 In fact, as it turned out, incest had devastating effects on women’s well-being. van der Kolk MD, Bessel (2014-09-25). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (Kindle Locations 479-484). Penguin Group US. Kindle Edition.

Fortunately we have all come a long ways in society since these days.  For anyone to think that being molested was a good thing leaves me completely speechless.  I can't even begin to comprehend how a textbook of the time would suggest anything remotely close to this.

Anyone that has been molested knows all too well that your life is anything but normal.  They know firsthand that your life is severely impacted by molestation.  It is trauma and horror that a victim goes through in dealing with the after shocks of what happened.

If you think that child molestation is anything good for a child, then please head to your nearest emergency room and ask them to do a brain scan, because you obviously are missing your brain.  I'm not sure you can harm a child more than molesting them.  It is about as bad as one can get.

I'm also concerned that all too often healer and medical professionals don't think beyond their box.  They lock into the paradigms they are taught and then treat it as the gospel truth.  Yes, I realize that  you tend to have to sing the same song to retain your status within the community but please, don't be a blind follower.

We all need to rise above current group think and grasp the ideas that are truly helpful, not adding more insult to the injury.  Child abuse is a serious topics that deserves serious discussion.  To turn our backs on those that have endured this or are enduring this is adding to the problem, not helping to cure it.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2/25/15 by Don Shetterly

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