What If My Family Rejects Me? Part 1
by Christina Enevoldsen, Chris Kuhn & Ron Schulz Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse believe their family to be supportive and nurturing—until they talk about their abuse. They are surprised...
View ArticleWhat If My Family Rejects Me? Part 2
by Christina Enevoldsen & Bethany My daughter, Bethany, and I were both sexually abused by our fathers and were strongly opposed by our family when we dared to seek justice for her abuse. We’re...
View ArticleWhat If My Family Rejects Me? Part 3
by Christina Enevoldsen & Darlene Ouimet Christina: The other day, I was felt unsettled about some things and, as usual, I poured out my heart to my husband. He’s a good listener, so as I processed...
View ArticleMy Parents Are Dead (To Me)
by Christina Enevoldsen It would be easier to tell people my parents are dead. Orphans get sympathy; I get judgment. When I tell people that I don’t have any contact with my mother or father, it’s...
View ArticleI’m Re-gifting Christmas
by Christina Enevoldsen When I was thirteen, I wanted four children. The entire reason I wanted a family of that size was Christmas. I imagined that the perfect Christmas mandated a house full of...
View ArticleDo Kids Miss Out While Parents Heal?
by Jennifer Stuck My childhood sexual abuse used to be something I rarely thought about. In fact, most of my time was spent finding ways to stuff my memories and feelings, doing anything I could to...
View ArticleWhat We Wish Our Parents Understood About Our Sexual Abuse
One of the deepest sources of pain for sexual abuse survivors is the lack of support from family members, especially from parents. Over and over again, survivors of abuse have expressed the feeling...
View ArticleIt’s Not About You, Mom
by Christina Enevoldsen Yesterday was my 46th birthday. Birthdays prompt me to reflect on my life—where I’ve come from and where I am now. Some of those thoughts included the woman who gave birth to...
View ArticleDysfunctional Family Holiday Survival Tips
by Christina Enevoldsen with Bethany If only I’d have known these family holiday survival tips years ago. When I remember holidays with my family, I think of stress. The image that comes to mind is...
View ArticleHoliday Triggers of Abuse
by Christina Enevoldsen In the first few years of healing from childhood sexual abuse and separating from my abusive parents, I approached each holiday feeling a little anxious. Holidays used to be...
View ArticleWhat To Do With the Pain From the Rejection of a Mother
by Christina Enevoldsen I knew it wasn’t the wisest decision to meet with my mother after seven years of no contact. The past seven years have been the happiest of my life—despite being sued by my...
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How I Decided To Go No Contact With My Abuser Father
By Carissa Magras As any little girl, I loved my daddy very much. He was a high school athletic coach. He was funny. Everyone admired him and I was proud to call him dad. We even had our own little...
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Feeling Guilty For Leaving My Abusive Parents
“You weren’t there for me.” My mom sat across the table from me last year after seven years of no contact. I’d suggested we meet to discuss the way she’d been treating my daughter. But my mother...
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Rejecting Dysfunctional Family Rules
by Christina Enevoldsen Compliance to dysfunctional family rules was survival as a child but it was self-betrayal in adulthood. One of the most significant sources of pain and damage of my abuse comes...
View ArticleA Mother’s Day Card From the Disposable Child
by Christina Enevoldsen I’ve been divorced from my mom for over 8 years now. I’ve gotten used to my mother’s rejection and her not being in my life. It doesn’t always bother me, but that doesn’t mean...
View ArticleI’m Re-gifting Christmas
by Christina Enevoldsen When I was thirteen, I wanted four children. The entire reason I wanted a family of that size was Christmas. I imagined that the perfect Christmas mandated a house full of...
View ArticleHoliday Triggers of Abuse
by Christina Enevoldsen In the first few years of healing from childhood sexual abuse and separating from my abusive parents, I approached each holiday feeling a little anxious. Holidays used to be...
View ArticleWhat We Wish Our Parents Understood About Our Sexual Abuse
One of the deepest sources of pain for sexual abuse survivors is the lack of support from family members, especially from parents. Over and over again, survivors of abuse have expressed the feeling...
View ArticleIt’s Not About You, Mom
by Christina Enevoldsen Yesterday was my birthday. Birthdays prompt me to reflect on my life—where I’ve come from and where I am now. Some of my thoughts included the woman who gave birth to me. My...
View Article6 Dysfunctional Family Holiday Survival Tips
by Christina Enevoldsen with Bethany If only I’d have known these family holiday survival tips years ago. When I remember holidays with my family of origin, I think of stress. The image that comes to...
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