by Georgia Peach

Created on: April 20, 2007   Last Updated: February 28, 2008

I have spent years of my life working to overcome the abuse I suffered as a child. I went through feelings of anger, depression, and felt as though I was worthless. I truly believed that I had nothing to offer. I believed that I was unintelligent, and definitely too stupid to fulfill my dream of being a writer. The years of emotional and physical abuse had taken a toll on not only my self esteem but on my spirit.

I worked hard on recovering, breaking the cycle, and getting my life back. It wasn't an overnight process, it took time, but I did it. I learned how to love and respect myself, how to believe in myself, and how to be happy. Now I am a professional writer. I've published many articles, short stories, and poems. I hope that through my writing I can inspire others to overcome their abuse and believe in themselves as well.

These are the steps that I took on my journey to recovery, may they help you in your own recovery process, and may you find the peace that you deserve.

Release The Pain

Let yourself feel the pain. Don't close yourself off to the world. It's not pleasant but it's better to feel the pain then to keep it bottled up inside of you. It's important to let yourself cry. Start a journal to express your feelings and write in it whenever you need to. Find someone to confide in, perhaps even a counselor. By letting go of the pain and learning to trust again you will be opening yourself up to experiencing more feelings of happiness.

Don't Let The Past Define You

You want to feel the hurt and to release it, but it won't help to wallow in it. You do not want to become so absorbed in the pain that you think of nothing else. There is more to you than your past. Work towards creating a great future for yourself. You may have been a victim in the past but you do not have to be a victim now. Don't let the abuse define who you are today, you are so much more than what's been done to you.

Get Rid Of The Anger

Release the anger in a positive way. Whether you lift weights, practice karate, or hit a punching bag (or even a pillow), release the rage inside of you when you're by yourself and no one can be affected by your anger. Many people who have been abused carry this anger with them throughout their lives and sometimes take it out on those around them. When your anger affect others you may end up continuing the cycle of abuse and even get into trouble with the law. Break the cycle by getting rid of the anger in positive ways. Listen to music, write in your journal,

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