Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 3095

Tonight's special guest is Sandra Holdorf from Ohio, an adult survivor of childhood sexual, physical, and mental abuse from an alcoholic parent. "When I was younger," she says, "people didn't really recognize the long lasting impact that mental abuse had on children. Physical abuse was recognized to a degree, but you still only heard about it in extreme cases." She goes on, "The sexual abuse I suffered was getting more and more invasive. My sister recognized that I had started suffering her same fate and came forward. Her strength caused an investigation and stopped the abused." But Sandra suffered physical and mental abuse throughout her childhood, too. "I was told I was stupid on a regular basis. I was told I was a pig and that I was going to have to start eating on the floor with the dog. I was hit with a belt so many times I can't count them. I was kicked in the head with steal-toed cowboy boots." The abuse she experienced at home was like a sign to others. "Once I spent the night at a friend's house." she explains. "Her brother (much older brother) took me out of the bed where I was sleeping up to his bedroom and did what he wanted." Drinking at an early age, Sandra spent much of her adult life as a raging alcoholic. "I've attempted suicide a couple of times. The last time ended in an inpatient stay at a psych hospital." The inpatient stay set off a chain reaction of medical care. "Issues with my physical health lead me to a university center for treatment for chronic stomach issues. This physician, my psychiatrist, and my therapist were all on the same page. My illnesses all stemmed back to childhood trauma." We're glad she's better now. Sandra's now looking into becoming a NAASCA volunteer!