Editor,
As someone who was sexually harassed in the past, I know first-hand about the inner pain that victims/survivors experience.
But as someone who spent five years as a counselor/therapist working in the fields of alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health, I want to share my observations and research findings about various forms of “abuse.”
Our country needs to start having a conversation about the plight of incest victims/survivors. These people suffer more deeply and profoundly than victims/survivors of other forms of abuse. Their self-hatred, self-loathing and self-blame is so severe and extreme that some of them constantly smile even when it is not appropriate to do so. Experienced counselors/therapists will tell you that they do this as a way to hide and cover up how dirty, disgusting and unhappy they feel deep within themselves. They also suffer from a higher rate of suicide, anorexia nervosa and bulimia than other forms of abuse.
Our society needs to take the next step and try to eradicate this problem from existence.
Sincerely,
Stewart B. Epstein
