As an adult, could you ever forgive a parent who severely abused you when you were a child? What if some of your adulthood fears stemmed?

If I was severely abused by a parent when I was a child, I would forgive my parent because I think that is one step towards healing. I know that as a child it would be very traumatic for me and there are adulthood issues and fears that I am experiencing because of the past abuse but I would seek professional help so that I will know how to deal with them and to be able to move on. I think when we forgive it is one step closer to being able to let go and forget the past.

Although I am sure that it would take a lot of effort and I would need some guidance and help but I will do my best to be able to let go of my past to be able to live life as fully as I want to be.

I believe that in order to expect others to forgive you for any shortcomings you have then you must forgive. I know it is hard, I do practice what I write here so I know it is hard. I just believe that you are not in a position to ask for forgiveness for the things you do out of ignorance or any other reason if you can't forgive.

I do not think that means you have to have an ongoing relationship with them unless you trust they have changed. If you think they will hurt your child then I would say not to keep them in your child's life. If you choose to keep them in the life, then make sure they are well supervised.

How horrible if they hurt someone else in the same manner.

Im sorry to say many children grow up with this as a part of who they are. Forgiving those who abused you is a part of the recovery process. The physical, verbal, sexual, mental abuse that many children have endured, are things that no one who hasnt expierenced those events can ever understand.To have your mother, father, uncl,e aunt, grandmother, grandfather betray you and shape your outlook on life to be distorted and bleak ,are things that a child should never expierence.

An adult who suffered as a child with abuse , the coping mechanisms very from person to person. Many people go for ages without identifying how to have a normal social life. Many people never recover and the pattern of abuse continues to their children.

So forgiving someone for abuse goes beyond words. Its their actions that matter. Having them know that what they did was wrong and knowing they recieved help for the abuse given to you will make you feel better in the long run.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.