Restless Spirits #Halloween #Poetry

There's a bite in the air, a chill on the ground

This time of year restless spirits abound...

The laughter of children, dressed up for the night

Give them a treat, or be prepared for a fright....

Day loses it's battle, night extends it's dark power

Beware if you're around at the witching hour...

All Hallows Eve, a day celebrated through time

Ignore not it's meaning, ignorance a crime....

Summer days are long gone,  the harvest is in

Winter approaches; Let the hauntings begin...

Witches, werewolves, vampires and ghouls

The dead walk tonight!! Beware, ignorant fools...

A Midnight Waltz #Poetry #Halloween

A midnight waltz with a fallen angel
And your dreams will be fulfilled
The stars will twinkle with the beat
Of knowledge for which some have killed
Behind the curtain of darkness
Lies a single ray of light
Shadows of the past at your heels
A pain that holds you tight
I come to you with a simple offer
A dance to meet your every goal
I'll give you your dreams on a burning plate
But in return, in return, I want your soul
My enchanting tune will lure you in
And test the power of your will
While a breeze of suppression hides the truth
My intent is purely ill
I'll take the form of anything
To beguile you with my charm
Don't worry! It's just a little dance
How could it bring you harm?
A moonlit dance with destiny
Will cure you of all your ills
Will you be able to withstand the temptation
Or will you submit to a midnight waltz?

Child Abuse - South Africa

LEAD SA YOU can change the world. Lead SA is a personal call to every person to make a difference. We all have a responsibility to make the world a better place. It could be as simple as making a stranger smile or as big as fighting to further the rights entrenched in our Constitution. Each act makes a difference. This website tells the stories of people who are making our country a better place.

RAPCAN (Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) works to promote the rights and protection of children in South Africa and the region. We are committed to ensuring that the protection (nurturance) and participation (autonomy) rights of children are realised, working within an advocacy framework towards the realisation of a prevention-oriented child protection system, gender equality and child participation. Our work is strengthened by strategic partnerships and the participation of children. We believe in respecting diversity, dignity and the equality of all people, and providing resources to support the testing of professional, high quality, evidence-informed programmes. 

Strategic Objectives 
1. CHILD PROTECTION/PREVENTION:
To promote primary and secondary prevention in the child protection system

2. PARTICIPATION:
To promote children’s participation rights and to facilitate opportunities for children to influence decisions

3. GENDER:
To enable children to have insight of how their gender roles place them at risk of harm and to promote a culture of understanding and tolerance in relation to gender and sexual identity.

Childline is an effective non-profit organization that works collectively to protect children from all forms of violence and to create a culture of children's rights in South Africa.

Programmes delivered through the provincial offices

• Crisis Line
• Child Rights, Prevention & Education
• Training of Volunteers
• Training of other professionals who work in child protection and children
• Therapy for abused and traumatized children and their families
• Court preparation for child witnesses
• Networking & Coordination
• Advocacy

Programmes delivered through the national office

• Training and education
• Analysis of law and policy
• Lobbying and advocacy
• Networking and coordination

The Archbishop Said He ‘Wasn’t Sure’ It Was Illegal To Have Sex With Children #childabuse

Decide for yourselves...



http://countercurrentnews.com/2014/06/archbishop-claims-he-wasnt-sure-it-was-illegal-for-priests-to-have-sex-with-children/

http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Archbishop-responds-to--263115411.html

http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/st-louis-archbishop-carlson-claims-to-be-uncertain-if-he/article_4215ecea-3409-53b3-813b-545c81a1b793.html

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/st-louis-archdiocese-taking-archbishop-s-quotes-out-context

Help ME! #childabuse #survivor #poetry

I'm crying inside but no one can hear

I'm hurting inside but no one can see

I'm dying inside but no one cares

Help me break free from this pain that I feel

Give me the love that i've never felt

How can I survive with no love in my life?

How can I survive when i'm wanting to die?

Why can no one feel my pain?

Why doesn't anyone care?

Help me breathe

Help me live

Help me be who I really am

I don't want to feel this hurt anymore

I don't want this stake in my chest

Help me..........

1993

Common Symptoms in Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Common Symptoms in Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse:

• Physical Presentations
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Gastrointestinal symptoms/distress
• Musculoskeletal complaints
• Obesity, eating disorders
• Insomnia, sleep disorders
• Pseudocyesis
• Sexual dysfunction
• Asthma, respiratory ailments
• Addiction
• Chronic headache
• Chronic back pain
• Psychologic and Behavioral Presentations
• Depression and anxiety
• Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
• Dissociative states
• Repeated self-injury
• Suicide attempts
• Lying, stealing, truancy, running away
• Poor contraceptive practices
• Compulsive sexual behaviors
• Sexual dysfunction
• Somatizing disorders
• Eating disorders
• Poor adherence to medical recommendations
• Intolerance of or constant search for intimacy
• Expectation of early death

Although there is no single syndrome that is universally present in adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, there is an extensive body of research that documents adverse short- and long-term effects of such abuse. To appropriately treat and manage survivors of CSA, it is useful to understand that survivors' symptoms or behavioral sequelae often represent coping strategies employed in response to abnormal, traumatic events. These coping mechanisms are used for protection during the abuse or later to guard against feelings of overwhelming helplessness and terror. Although some of these coping strategies may eventually lead to health problems, if symptoms are evaluated outside their original context, survivors may be misdiagnosed or mislabeled (5).

In addition to the psychologic distress that may potentiate survivors' symptoms, there is evidence that abuse may result in biophysical changes. For example, one study found that, after controlling for history of psychiatric disturbance, adult survivors had lowered thresholds for pain (13). It also has been suggested that chronic or traumatic stimulation (especially in the pelvic or abdominal region) heightens sensitivity, resulting in persistent pain such as abdominal and pelvic pain or other bowel symptoms (14, 15).

Although responses to sexual abuse vary, there is remarkable consistency in mental health symptoms, especially depression and anxiety. These mental health symptoms may be found alone or more often in tandem with physical and behavioral symptoms. More extreme symptoms are associated with abuse onset at an early age, extended or frequent abuse, incest by a parent, or use of force (4). Responses may be mitigated by such factors as inherent resiliency or supportive responses from individuals who are important to the victim (4). Even without therapeutic intervention, some survivors maintain the outward appearance of being unaffected by their abuse. Most, however, experience pervasive and deleterious consequences (4).

The primary aftereffects of childhood sexual abuse have been divided into seven distinct, but overlapping categories (16):

• Emotional reactions
• Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Self-perceptions
• Physical and biomedical effects
• Sexual effects
• Interpersonal effects
• Social functioning

Responses can be greatly variable and idiosyncratic within the seven categories. Also, survivors may fluctuate between being highly symptomatic and relatively symptom free. Health care providers should be aware that such variability is normal.

References

McCauley J, Kern DE, Kolodner K, Schroeder AF, DeChant HK, Ryden J, et al. Clinical characteristics of women with a history of childhood abuse: unhealed wounds. JAMA 1997;277:1362-1368

Koss MP, Koss PG, Woodruff WJ. Deleterious effects of criminal victimization on women's health and medical utilization. Arch Intern Med 1991;151:342-347

Drossman DA, Leserman J, Nachman G, Li ZM, Gluck H, Toomey TC, et al. Sexual and physical abuse in women with functional or organic gastrointestinal disorders. Ann Intern Med 1990;113:828-833

American Medical Association. Diagnostic and treatment guidelines on mental health effects of family violence. Chicago: AMA, 1995

Hendricks-Matthews M. Long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse. In: Rosenfeld J, Alley N, Acheson LS, Admire JB, eds. Women's health in primary care. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1997:267-276

Britton H, Hansen K. Sexual abuse. Clin Obstet Gynecol 1997;40:226-240

Maltz W. Adult survivors of incest: how to help them overcome the trauma. Med Aspects Hum Sex 1990;24:42-47

Hendricks-Matthews MK. Caring for victims of childhood sexual abuse. J Fam Pract 1992;35:501-502

Tjaden P, Thoennes N. Prevalence, incidence, and consequences of violence against women: findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey. Research in Brief. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, November 1998, NCJ 172837

Moore KA, Driscoll A. Partners, predators, peers, protectors: males and teen pregnancy. New data analysis of the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth. In: Not just for girls: the roles of boys and men in teen pregnancy. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 1997: 7-12

Schoen C, Davis K, Collins KS, Greenberg L, Des Roches C, Abrams M. The Commonwealth Fund survey of the health of adolescent girls. New York: The Commonwealth Fund, 1997

Walker EA, Torkelson N, Katon WJ, Koss MP. The prevalence rate of sexual trauma in a primary care clinic. J Am Board Fam Pract 1993;6:465-471

Scarinci IC, McDonald-Haile J, Bradley LA, Richter JE. Altered pain perception and psychosocial features among women with gastrointestinal disorders and history of abuse: a preliminary model. Am J Med 1994:97:108-118

Cervero F, Janig W. Visceral nociceptors: a new world order? Trends Neurosci 1992;15:374-378

Drossman DA. Physical and sexual abuse and gastrointestinal illness: what is the link? Am J Med 1994;97:105-107

Courtois CA. Adult survivors of sexual abuse. Prim Care 1993;20:433-446