We���re talking about sexual abuse on SelfWork today ��� so please, if you have sexual abuse in your history or have somehow been affected by it, listen carefully.

Sometimes I receive a voicemail where I can hear the stark heartache that���s behind the message. And this week was no exception. The hurt expressed was so palpable for me. Not only hurt, but confusion and a huge sense of loss.

Who was it from? She���s a therapist. A mom. A daughter, not in that order. Let���s call her Lisa.

So, what had happened? Lisa���s very young daughter had told her that her mother���s husband, Lisa���s stepfather, had sexually molested her. And she���s struggling to handle the consequent tsunami of family distrust and estrangement between the members of her family ��� which is very common but still very painful. At the very time she feels she most needs her mother, her mom has taken her stepfather���s side and believes her granddaughter is making up something that didn���t happen.

Maybe some of you tried to talk to a parent or a teacher or a pastor about being hurt sexually or any other way in your family. Not only were you not believed. You might���ve been blamed or warned not to tell ���lies��� about your family ��� or the perpetrator.

Again, please take care in listening if you have a history of sexual abuse or were hurt in some way through sexual abuse. The sexual abuse hotline number/website below.

Vital Links:

The RAINN.org sexual abse hotline/website

Jane Epstein's incredibly courageous journey, revealing sibling sexual abuse

SelfWork episode on intrafamilial sexual abuse

Advertisers' Links and Special Offers :

Have you been putting off getting help? BetterHelp, the #1 online therapy provider, has a special offer ��for you now!

You can hear more about this and many other topics by listening to my podcast, SelfWork with Dr. Margaret Rutherford.��Subscribe��to��my website��and receive my weekly newsletter including a blog post and podcast! If you���d like to join my FaceBook closed group, then click��here��and answer the membership questions! Welcome!

My book entitled Perfectly Hidden Depression��is available��here!��Its message is specifically for those with a struggle with strong perfectionism which acts to mask underlying emotional pain. But the many self-help techniques described can be used by everyone who chooses to begin to address emotions long hidden away that are clouding and sabotaging your current life.

There���s another way to send me a message! You can record by clicking below and ask your question or make a comment. You���ll have 90 seconds to do so and that time goes quickly. By recording, you���re giving SelfWork (and me) permission to use your voice on the podcast. I���ll look forward to hearing from you!

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