Do we ever really get over emotional abuse? I think we can, but that depends on the circumstances and why the trust is broken.

Relationships are about trust

Relationships are about trust, trust is the invisible thread that binds families and people together. You don’t question it, you don't see it, you assume it's there. We trust, but may feel betrayed by family if what happened to us was done wittingly.

We know what our difficulties are. I could see my physical difficulties, but my mental and emotional difficulties although obvious in part, weren’t that obvious, so it was easy for those to be ignored. It’s hard not to take what has happened personally.

Giving my Disability a 'Platform'

Giving my disability a platform means I can understand and for the first time. I was angry that I was the scapegoat, the issue, that my difficulties with something I didn't know I had, continually seeped into my life negatively, spanning decades.

What happened to me isn’t my responsibility, so I give the responsibility to those responsible – to those who need to own it. I absolutely recognise that I did my best to get through it, I know that I couldn’t have changed anything.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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2 comments on “Healing from Emotional Abuse”

  1. No one can begin to heal from emotional abuse until the abuse has stopped, it then takes time to repair the deep damage. Even then I am not so sure the effects of that damage completely disappear.

    Abuse is about the abuser, so it didn't happen 'under your watch' as it was never your responsibility. As the trauma you experienced went on for so long.

    It's okay to acknowledge you may never get over it and that in itself is part of the healing.

    1. Thanks. Yes, when you say, 'acknowledging the fact that you may never get over it and that in itself is part of healing.' - I agree with that.

      You've made all of this make sense, and for many I am sure.

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