Sexual abuse is not the only effect of an isolated, insular family. I met a beautiful woman who told a story of isolation, rejection and terror. She was raised in a very unhealthy isolated family defined by its fundamentalist Christian beliefs that rejected mainstream church members, as "churchies" and others as "non-believers." The only contact permitted was within the extended family, and then only those who conformed. The bible was read with a stick (literaly), females were only barely educated, people were brought into the fold to marry. She was raised to be terrified of the outside world and terrified that the outside world would discover her shame. They were the "white trash" family (her words) that the world (including high school kids) scorned, bullied and taunted.
She is going to make it. Sometimes therapy is truly inspiring. She smiles now, loves a man and swears as a sign of freedom.
|
|
|
|---|
