This newsletter deals with abuse and abuse related issues. While every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, we assume no liability re same. This newsletter may be distributed for non-profit and educational purposes, provided it remains fully intact, and is distributed free of charge. No other distribution without the authors consent.
Janet Mohrman, is working on a thesis which explores the relationship between Obesity and Sexual Abuse. Thanks to the many visitors from this site who have already participated in this study. If you haven't taken part in this research and would like to, visit Janet's web site. Below is an abstract which includes a preliminary analysis from the data collected to date.
| SEXUAL ABUSE AND OBESITY IN WOMEN by JANET E. MOHRMAN, RD LD MS Childhood sexual abuse and obesity share common characteristics such as increased prevalence, increased incidence in women, and similar emotional traits. Women are generally more obese than men (27% to 24%), and more often experience sexual abuse (2:1 ratio). The thesis questionnaire was linked to appropriate Internet web sites; one hundred and forty-four women responded to the questions. The mean height and weight was 65 inches and 213 lbs., respectively. The mean BMI was 35.5, indicating obesity in the sample, or approximately 170% of their ideal body weight. Six years old was the mean age for the beginning of sexual abuse. The results from Hypothesis 1 indicate that there was a significant positive relationship between sexual abuse and obesity. For those women who were sexually abused, using the Pearson Chi-square (x²(1, N = 136) = 16.281). The significant difference was at a level of .0001 between obese and non obese. The level of significance was set at < .05. Seventy-three (73) percent of the respondents had been sexually abused and were obese. In Hypothesis 2, one-way Anova was used to compare weight before and after sexual abuse counseling. No significant differences were found. The third and final hypothesis, using Pearson Chi-square(x²(1, N ,= 120) = 4.628) found a significant difference of .031 between sexual abuse and binge eating. The results of this study indicate that counseling for sexually abused obese women should initially concentrate of the emotions such as anger, and depression before successful weight control can be accomplished. |
When a friend shares their emotions, feelings and history with us, they are entrusting us with their vulnerability. It's an honour to bear witness to their experience.
We often hesitate to share our story with a friend, even when we have every sense that that friend will be okay with the knowledge. We tell ourselves.. "we don't want to burden them", that it's "not fair to unload on them", or that we "don't want to dump our problems on them". One way or another we simultaneously minimize our experience and maximize the burden of our experience to someone else's ears. Yet, when a friend says these same statements to us, we brush them aside as nonsense... "Don't be silly... of course it's important..". So easily do we give grace to others but not to ourselves.
Whenever I find myself leaning towards sharing with a friend, and then backing away while making the typical "burden" statements, I try to remember this honour aspect. Sharing bestows an honour upon the listener... even if we ourselves are doing the talking. The honour isn't negated because we, ourselves, are the one being heard. F2b
Yesterday, I sat and watched the rain come down for awhile and pondered life. I realized that this was something I thoroughly enjoy doing, just sitting and watching the rain, and I also realized how infrequently I actually do it. I thought about this and realized just how busy we've all become in society. Rushing to do this, running to finish this. Even the things we enjoy have become tiresome scheduled events. Even the people we care about the most are yet another social responsibility that we "must" do.
We just don't have enough time in our days to sit back and do something for the sole purpose of enjoying it. Even if we did, most of us would probably just feel guilty about not doing something else anyway. We live in an instant society, where our value is measured not by who we are, but by what we are doing. On top of that we are measured by what we are doing right now, as opposed to the past or future. Someone sitting and watching the rain has no social value whatsoever, so we don't do it.
Why are we like this? I think it's because we all expect instant results. Heck you can go to an ATM machine and get instant cash, walk up to McDonald's and get instant food, send an email across the world in a matter of seconds. So we look for instant happiness, and if we don't have it, we must DO something different. We must take care of all our little chores, then we may be happier, or we better keep working to make other people happy, so they won't dislike us. That will make us happy.
Wrong, wrong and more wrong. Not that I'm saying you shouldn't spend time with friends,
or get your laundry done. Absolutely you should, but do it because you want to. You do
laundry because you want to have clean clothes, spend time with loved ones because you
want to be with them, and share with them. Enjoy the simple fact that you are alive, and
that there are things in the world that make you happy, even if it is just watching the
rain. And most of all realize that the best things in life take time, they are not
instant. Love can take a lifetime to grow, and flourish. Strength of character comes from
experience and time, trust needs to be built, and recovery can take years, with many
setbacks along the way. I spent 3 years in therapy, and on medication before I could even
start to live my life. And even though I am no longer doing meds or therapy, I still
struggle and learn and grow everyday. And my own happiness is worth the time, effort and
wait. Mike
If you would like to share your creative work, poetry, story or artwork in our next newsletter, contact us. We are always looking for interesting articles, personal stories, creative expressions, or other input (including gifs of your work) which you feel would be of interest to survivors of abuse. A special thank you to those who submitted their work for this issue. Each author retains copyrights to their work, no reproduction without the authors consent.
| WHY
ME? INNER CHILD IF I
WERE A LITTLE GIRL AGAIN I WOULD WASH AWAY THE TEARS I WISH THAT I CAN SAY WITH EVERY GOOD INTENTION TODAY I'M ALL GROWNUP I STILL FEEL THE PAIN EVERY TIME I START TO FEEL I DON'T DESERVE THIS TORTURE DEAR GOD, PLEASE LIFT I'M SURE THAT THIS WILL PASS I AM TOLD TO HELP I WANT MY SELF-ESTEEM BACK MY CHILDHOOD WAS STOLEN MY LIFE IS ALL MESSED UP IF THERE WAS AN ANTIDOTE I KNOW THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN SO PRAY FOR ME PLEASE MY CHILDREN NEED THERE MOTHER MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN BESIDE ME I DO LOVE HIM VERY DEEPLY I WISH THAT HE KNEW HOPEFULLY SOMETIME SOON WHEN I THINK OF RAIN BY DOING THIS NOW THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE THIS FINAL STATEMENT YOUR A VERY SPECIAL PERSON A POEM BY |
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