americanbeauty asked this question on 3/20/2000:

what kind of abbuse did you endure?for how long?what kind of abuse did you see happen to your friends?and how did you overcome the abuse?

Brandie gave this response on 3/20/2000:

Both of my parents had forced sex with me. I was about 8 or 9 when the sexual abuse began. I went to family members and the police, but no one would help. So I had to stay with these abusers until I was old enough to leave on my own. I remember when I was about 12 the woman who birthed me, came to me and said "if you have a baby by your dad he will buy you a horse". Needless to say my love for horses died, and thank God I never got pregnant by him. I was hit with whatever my people could get their hands on. I remember one time "my father" hit me so hard, he knocked the air out of me. I forever had bruises, sprains, whatever. The excuse they told people was that I was clumsy. I have seen my friends being beat, guns waved in their faces, gas poured around their living rooms where they were dared to move an inch. You name it I probably have seen or have had it done to me. My abuse started when I was about 8 or 9 and ended when I was 18 and left their house. I don't think you ever fully recover from abuse, I think you can get better. I work every day of my life to overcome the mental abuse they did to me. I have come to the point in my life where I know they are the ones who are very sick. I know now that I didn't deserve what they did to me. I still wonder why me though. That's why I feel you never fully recover. I do have a good life now (for the past 20 years). I think the biggest help in overcoming what I have been through is when I learned to talk about what happened to me. For many many years it was my dirty secret, I didn't want anyone to know about it. I thank God and my husband and give them credit for being there for me, helping me heal. Healing takes time, patience and love. I have overcome much, I didn't let the mountain overcome me, I am over coming the mountain. I hope this answers your questions, and if you would like to talk more please feel free to contact me. I promise to answer all questions and give advise from the heart.

The average rating for this answer is 5.

americanbeauty rated this answer a 5.

you are a very strong person.thank you for answering the questions.