Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse: Practical Self-help For Adults Who Were Sexually Abused As Children [Paperback]

Carolyn Ainscough (Author), Kay Toon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 2000

Understanding the past-and breaking free from it-is the key to surviving childhood sexual abuse. This book can help ease the journey, with discussions of the damage caused by abuse; anxiety, fears, and nightmares; depression and low self-esteem; eating disorders and negative body image; feelings toward the abuser, and how to overcome problems and work toward prevention.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Carolyn Ainscough is a clinical psychologist who has dedicated herself to helping survivors of sexual abuse through support groups and one-on-one counseling. Kay Toon is a clinical psychologist who has dedicated herself to helping survivors of sexual abuse through support groups and one-on-one counseling.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; Rev Sub edition (April 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555612253
• ISBN-13: 978-1555612252
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Practically Pointless, February 17, 2003

By 

John M. Herron "Erica Herron" (Sharpsburg, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse: Practical Self-help For Adults Who Were Sexually Abused As Children (Paperback)

First let me say this: I commend anyone who puts out a book on this subject matter, it is brave, thoughtful, and honorable. It is a much needed genre and shouldn't be too strongly criticized.
That aside, one of the few things this book suceeded in doing was convincing me that sexual abuse has a detrimental effect on the person in their adult life, something I had no need to be convinced of. It also no doubt made the average survivor feel less alone. In addition, there was one wonderful chapter about how to protect one's own children from abuse.
It lacks practical use. Most of the survivors' resources (hotlines) in the back were disconnected or when actually put to use were run by characteristically undereducated people. There are no suggestions for prosecution that I recall, and virtually nada hardcore advice for dealing with the residual effects of this abuse.
Overall not worth buying unless you are just now becoming aware of your own abuse and need to overcome the feelings of shame and isolation, or you're coming to grips with the abuse of a loved one and you need to be educated on the emotional experience of said loved one.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great help, September 12, 2005

By 

D. Thompson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse: Practical Self-help For Adults Who Were Sexually Abused As Children (Paperback)

Although there were one or two chapters in the book that didn't pertain to me, I found this book very helpful. The exercises at the end of each chapter really made me think, and made me realize why I react the way I do to certain things. It helped that I was able to share the questions and my answers with a couple of trustworthy friends. This book gave me the incentive to want to move on to the next step in my recovery process.
I, too, have tried to contact a couple of the helplines mentioned in the back of the book, but was unable to. However, that is not a problem for me, as I can contact a local agency.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing....WE Are NOT Alone...., July 18, 2011

By 

JuJu - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse: Practical Self-help For Adults Who Were Sexually Abused As Children (Paperback)

I don't usually write reviews like this, but I must take the time to let all know, that are looking for something to help them get through the ravages of the effects of sexual abuse (my father) in my case, or anyone else; this book is written in a way to really help one get through it, and to understand one's confused feelings or irrational behaviour.

At first I was a bit skeptical, but thought, what can I lose? I followed instructions, did the exercises, meditated on what I was reading, kept a journal of my thoughts. If one follows these instructions, one can get the best help, without the costly professional therapy. I'm not saying that some may not need that route, I'm just saying try this.

I was horrified at some of the statistics, and feelings that people have. I was in tears while reading the experiences of other survivors. I was shocked, several times, when I thought to myself: What? I Just said that or this to one of my support givers. It made me realize that I am NOT alone in these feelings.

I am over 50 years old and this took place when I was 7-8 years old, I finally told my mom when I was approximately 10 years old, and it did not go well. The decision to break up the family and send dad to jail was going to be my decision, if that is what I wanted mom to do. What? Of course....I couldn't take that responsiblity on top of everthing else....so I was instructed that it must and always be a secret. No one must ever find out. I must always protect the secret and my parents. I was to begin living a double life so to speak. One at home, and an outward personna to others. I got good at it, but it has taken it's toll big time. I cam to a point in my life within the past few years, that I was getting worse, emotionally, mentally and physically.

At this point I am finding by reading the book, that there are many feelings and many incidents that I had pushed down deep and even forgotten, until one thing led to another. I am seeing a very good med doctor and on meds to help me to cope with the devastating anxiety and depression, that exasserbates the physical conditions that I have. She is fully aware of the situation, otherwise, how can she truly help me?

I know that though I go through painful times, I am learning, I am NOT alone, and the the feelings that I've had and the reasons for feelings that I've had through my life, and the troubles in my marriage of 35 years, have been caused by the sexual abuse and the threats to keep it a secret, as well as the continued manipulation of my parents...especially my mother.

I know that I will live with many things, that cannot be undone, but at this point, I am also learning how to cope and deal with things that I've never been able to do before. I am not well, but I am better in many ways, and understanding something, gives one a power to deal with something, no matter how hard it is.

I've also gotten strong enough (though not easy) to tell a few people (even though they know my parents and think highly of them)...and I've also written a letter to my parents explaining why I no longer want any contact with them. They have lied and continue to do so. My father just wants things to go on as they've been in the past, as he says, it happend so long ago, get over it. He denies the extent of all that he did to me. The blame for their problems have been laid at my door, and my mother acts like she doesn't know what she could possibly have done to me. This too, I explained in the letter as to why I was cutting off my relationship with them, in spite of being there for them all of my adult life. I would drop everything to answer their beck and call. That is at an end and is now behind me. There is no guilt there either.

I would recommend this book to all who have suffered sexual abuse, and would like to take the first steps at finding answers, some coping skills, some strength to face hard obsticles, and be on a road with a light at the end of a tunnel....no matter how long the tunnel is, or how small the light is right now.