Are you experiencing trouble with" ?relationships, on the job, in your family; or experience low self-esteem, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, alcohol/drug abuse, nightmares, suicidal thoughts or attempts, shame, guilt, baseless crying, angry outbursts, inability to recognize your feelings, mood swings, emotional shut down, numbing out, arthritis/joint pain, chronic/acute fear, headaches/ migraines, eating disorders, PMS, gastrointestinal/gynecological disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, MS or fibromyalgia?

You are not alone. Many men and women experience this kind of pain. Many, if not most, do not know verbal, physical, sexual abuse/incest is the cause of their emotional/physical pain. The medical and psychiatric profession attributes these maladies to the person's inadequacy for the rigors of adult life or genetic abnormalities.

Family violence research reveals sexual abuse is as high as 62% for females and 31% for males. An estimated 906,000 children were found to be victims of physical abuse or neglect in 2003. The national rate of victimization was 12.4 per 1,000 children. In 1997, Harvard Medical center conducted a random survey throughout the U.S. - the survey was focused on the use and prevalence of spanking as a form of discipline. The survey revealed 67% of families used spanking at least once a week for discipline. While spanking is a traditional mainstay for discipline and it is believed by some to be commanded in the Bible" ?specifically in the book of Proverbs" ?hitting/spanking is abuse to a child. We need to look at the experience of the child. That is what society did when laws were enacted regarding domestic violence" ?the victim is the one who knows if they were harmed" ?not what the abuser decides is abuse.

Tragically, when hitting involves children we are oblivious to that belief. Isn't it tragic that if I hit a stranger I could be arrested, but if I hit my child with more force, it would be considered OK? Granted, we are mindful that bruises, lacerations, welts, etc. means the 'discipline' has gone too far.

Whether the verbal, physical or sexual abuse is mild or extreme; occurred once or several times is irrelevant, because the damage is incurred immediately. The damage is profound, extensive and pervasive" ?it is a soul injury. To fully understand and appreciate the depth of this emotional pain, I will quote one of my clients, "Even my blood hurts." Time, money, pills, surgery, marriage, children, moving, jobs, divorce, perfectionism can not heal the pain.

Traditional psychiatric and medical practices treat symptoms" ?depression, panic attacks, anxiety, eating disorders, MS, lupus, cancer, Parkinson's disease, etc. and ignore the core issue" ?what the person experienced. Traditional psychiatric and talk therapy does not focus on uncovering the core issue that prompted the person to have the emotional pain. Nor does traditional psychiatric and talk therapy focus on healing the emotional wound or the trauma trapped in muscles and tissue. Traditional psychiatric and talk therapy focuses on creating better coping mechanisms. Coping through life is not living life. Living life means one is free to accomplish their hearts desires" ?without experiencing fears, doubts, anxiety, panic or struggles with low self-esteem or feelings of inadequacy.

In order to heal completely" ?mind, boy, spirit" ?a multifaceted healing process specifically focused on verbal, physical and sexual abuse recovery and diligent work is the most effective; wherein the survivor can replenish their emotional and spiritual identity and empowerment.