3 Stolen Rights

Did you suffer abuse or neglect as a child?

We know that one in seven children in the US has suffered from abuse in their families. Neglect is the most common form of child abuse. Authorities believe this is a conservative estimate given that many cases are unreported.

It's important to remember that "abuse" also refers to neglect. Childhood neglect is abuse. The effects of child abuse can be burdensome and far-reaching.

Some of these effects include:
• Shame about the abuse.
• Low self-esteem.
• Intrusive memories or flashbacks of the abuse.
• Problems with relationships, particularly intimate relationships.
• Feelings of continued vulnerability and distrust of others.
• Ongoing depression and anxiety, often undiagnosed and untreated.

For adult survivors of abuse and neglect, the three primary areas related to human rights are emotional needs, feelings, and boundaries. These three areas are referred to in this book as the "three stolen rights". If you were abused or neglected as a child, your rights were violated by a parent or caregiver in all three of these areas.

Being the adult child of an abusive or neglectful parent or caregiver doesn't determine your future. It is possible to heal and recover from your experience and reverse the long-term consequences of abuse.

Three Stolen Rights: How Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse and Neglect Can Claim Their Rights to Their Needs, Feelings, and Boundaries is the result of the author's many years of counseling both adolescents and adults abused or neglected in childhood.

This book guides you through each section, providing you with information and tools to address the rights you were denied. The goal is to validate your experience, assist you in healing the emotional wounds of your childhood, and provide direction in your recovery journey.

In this book, you will discover:

• Essential and specific needs every child (and adult) is entitled to.
• How addressing unresolved grief and loss can release some of the emotional
barriers to healing.
• Indicators that an adult survivor continues to experience toxic stress or traumatic reactions.
• Rules that operate in the abusive or neglectful family.
• How to acknowledge, identify, and express your feelings in a healthy manner.
• How our feelings are essential in providing valuable information that you can use in making
decisions or protecting your boundaries.
• Ways to boost and maintain a healthy self-esteem.
• How to determine who is a safe versus unsafe person in your daily interactions.
• The benefits of practicing healthy self-care.
• Tools for developing assertiveness and boundary setting.
• How joining a community of adult survivors of abuse can hasten your healing process.
• When to seek help from a mental health professional.
• The four primary components necessary in the recovery process.
• How to claim the fundamental, inviolable rights denied to you in childhood.

You don't need to have experienced abuse first-hand to benefit from this valuable knowledge. Whether a loving partner, spouse, friend, or co-worker, this information will help you understand what the abuse survivor is experiencing in their life. With such knowledge, you can offer meaningful support.

As an adult survivor, it is possible to break free from the trauma of abuse or neglect you experienced as a child or adolescent.