squirt13000 asked this question on 5/10/2000:

I am a ninth grade student at Timbercrest Junior High in Washington. I am doing an extensive report on child abuse. I would really like to hear your story, how you coped with being abused, and how it changed your life. My e-mail is alc2003@hotmail.com. Thank you so very much for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.

etal2000 gave this response on 5/11/2000:

Hi, I am glad to hear that you are doing an extensive report on childabuse. It is not an easy subject. I will try to tell you a bit about my story.... I have been abused from a very early age. I can't remember exactly when it began, but my first memory is from abuse at about 3 years old. Before that I have no memories at all, but most kids don't right? My father drank to much and when he was drunk the abuse was even more severe then other times. He abused me physicaly, emotionaly and sexualy. I never said no. If you ask me now why, I can only say that I was afraid AND that I didn't know any better then it was

etal2000 gave this follow-up answer on 5/11/2000:

Hi, I am glad to hear that you are doing an extensive report on childabuse. It is not an easy subject. I will try to tell you a bit about my story.... I have been abused from a very early age. I can't remember exactly when it began, but my first memory is from abuse at about 3 years old. Before that I have no memories at all, but most kids don't right? My father drank to much and when he was drunk the abuse was even more severe then other times. He abused me physicaly, emotionaly and sexualy. I never said no. If you ask me now why, I can only say that I was afraid AND that I didn't know any better then it was normal for him to do the things he did to me. I coped by dissociating. This is very difficult to explain, but I left my body and went to a nicer world. I could not remember what had happened when I came back to my body later. Because I was really young I was also able to create friends inside my head. The brains and the imagination of a young child is very flexible. Because those friends have been with me all my life, I didn't even know a lot of them, it gives me problems now. The survival techniques I learned back then and who have helped me stay alive, are now in the way for a healthy life. I am still in therapy to learn what is is to live a normal life and how to live this life. For more details you can visit my website at: http://get.to/know.did.

I hope this was of little help for your report and I wish you all the best.

Liz