anita,

I do currently go to a therapist who is aware of my experience.. She was the first person to point out the abuse to me. I will take your advice and print this out. Last night and this morning while re-reading your responses, a few questions arose..

Which are:

What is the importance of going through the healing process? What are the consequences if you do not go through it? I feel like many of the people who were abused go on living seemingly unaware of it.. What happens then?

I feel sometimes I cannot access my pain. Intellectualizing it and talking about it has become a method for me to avoid feeling it. What does the healing process look like?

Thanks again.