Abuse

Strange how mean words can return to ones thoughts, years after they’ve been callously thrown at you. They replay in your mind, spiking a sense of remembered pain. Nasty name calling can be an ugly memory that stabs unexpectedly—not unlike a nightmare where you wake up crying. Sticks and stones, may break your bones—yet, cruel names can hurt you.

The actions and emotional responses of others are not your responsibility. You cannot rescue people from themselves. This is for them to do. — André Chevalier

A child, without toxic interference, will naturally become the person they are meant to be. André Chevalier

The patterns learned as a child, repeat as an adult. Those with an abusive childhood are very often oh-so blind to this inescapable truth.— André Chevalier

A slut is a person of any gender who has the courage to lead life according to the radical proposition that sex is nice and pleasure is good for you.” — The Ethical Slut

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” ― Khalil Gibran

What has been done to you is one thing. Yet to really suffer, to truly be burdened with guilt and shame, such pain always begins not with what has been done to you—but with what you have done. André Chevalier

I have found that sometimes when a person gives up on 'humankind' they can often find trust and love in animal kind. André Chevalier

All people, whatever they are doing, no matter how crazy or irrational it seems… it is how they need to act—from their perspective.

Abuse? Ah. Such problems, even with time, do not go away on their own. They must be addressed. André Chevalier

Evil deeds and lies—kept hidden—ruin lives. Secrets give evil the power to grow.

Such a child must then live a lonely life of bitter uncertainty, constantly moving back and forth, between joy and despair.

Abuse? Ah. Such problems, even with time, do not go away on their own. They must be addressed.

One day at a time, sweet Jesus. Whoever wrote that one hadn’t a clue. A day is a fuckin’ eternity.” — Roddy DoyleIf

I would much prefer to be sinned upon than the sinner. It is easier, comprenez-vous? With the clear conscience one sleeps very well.

Usually, I go through life with my mouth shut. I’m a loner, mainly because I’m more comfortable alone.

Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know we are not alone.

Facing one’s past can be a perilous activity. For the client, joy must exceed misery. Personal successes must far outweigh losses. Pleasure must exceed pain. Always. Always. To do otherwise is a failure of the counselor.— André Chevalier