Escaping Abuse: Easier Said than Done

Escaping abuse is like climbing a mountain, difficult but not impossible. Victims of abuse are degraded, hurt, and traumatized. So why is it that many victims do not seek help immediately, or escape when given the opportunity?

When a person is abused, terror invades their mind and body. “’I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t even scream because it was very traumatic. You don’t know how to act,’ says Ladino, a rape victim” (Sacha 2). Being afraid of an abuser is one of the several reasons people choose not to speak up about their case. “’I imagine he didn’t feel like there was a way out,’ a psychologist said, adding that it seems the victim thought something worse would happen if he disobeyed his captors” (Poisson and Casey 3). A predator knows that sheer terror can keep their prey reigned in, and they use that to their advantage.

Those who have been mistreated and traumatized often experience shame. “For me, I felt shame and embarrassment. I was scared. I felt alone. I felt trapped…” (Bostick 2) When victims are humiliated, they often feel like they need to hide the evidence of the wrongdoings done to them. They are disgusted with what they let happen to them. In turn, their self-worth and esteem are diminished.

Often times, children are taken advantage of by their mother or father. “There are a lot of confusing emotions, typically because the perpetrator is someone who they love and they trust and it makes disclosure very difficult for a lot of children” (Bostick 2). Young ones put a lot of trust into their parents, and the thought of breaking faith with their mom or dad is incomprehensible. “I cry from the guilt of betraying my mother, for not keeping the shroud on her secrets when I held them locked in such trust” (Gregory 2...

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...e crap beaten out of you, so eventually you stop standing up for yourself and you just submit” (Poisson and Casey 2). This is called a learned helplessness (Poisson and Casey 2). Victims of abuse get shabby and tattered, and they feel as if there is no point in living anymore (Hallstrom 2013). In turn, they live their shattered lives wistfully and dolefully, submitting to others. These targets do not let their voice be heard because they are afraid it will not be listened to.

Overall, there are several of reasons victims of abuse do not speak up and ask for help. Whether it is they were shameful or threatened, terrorized or helpless, the only way to escape abuse is to recognize it for themselves. They need to know that they are not alone. Once victims reach the top of that mountain, only then will they be able to enjoy the beautiful view of the world before them.