“Being in a state of denial is auniversally human response tosituations which threaten tooverwhelm. People who were abusedas children sometimes carry theirdenial like precious cargo without aport of...”

“I spent most of my life believing lwas crazy because all the crazy things I experienced in childhood were treated as nonexistent or normal. This belief colored every decision made, from something s...”

“I've been depressed all day. I feel like such a fraud. People say how special and wonderful I am. I think,"Can't they tell? "Nita, September 18, 1984”

“The reality is, no matter what you were told, whatever happened to you as a child was not legally or morally your fault. Abused children are instilled with guilt regarding their "participation." It...”

“Nita: I think I overdid the vulnerability stuff in this last letter. and thats why Im having an anxiety attack.Howard: With the vulnerability comes the possibility that youll be betrayed. Now that ...”

“Even greater than my fear that l was crazy, was my lifelong dread that someone would find out.”

“Without realizing that the past is constantly determining their present actions, they avoid learning anything about their history. They continue to live in their repressed childhood situation, igno...”

“Right now Im having amnesia and dj vu at the same time. I think Ive forgotten this before.”

“Not knowing who you are is a certain kind of hell.”

“All work is the avoidance of harder work.”

“If you pay attention, you may find that it is not fear that stops you from doing the brave and true thing in your daily life. Rather, the problem is avoidance. You want to feel comfortable, so you ...”

“Laws of silence dont work. When something is festering in your memory or your imagination, laws of silence dont work, its just like shutting a door and locking it on a house on fire in hope of forg...”

“You teach me now how cruel you've been - cruel and false. Why did you despise me? Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy? I have not one word of comfort. You deserve this. You have killed yoursel...”

“I knew they would kill me when they found out, but He struggled for words, releasing a sharp breath. I think I realized that I would rather die because I betrayed them, than live because I betrayed...”

“Ah," she cried, "you look so cool." Their eyes met, and they stared together at each other, alone in space. With an effort she glanced down at the table.You always look so cool," she repeated.She h...”