...repeated trauma in childhood forms and deforms the personality. The child trapped in an abusive environment is faced with formidable tasks of adaptation. She must find a way to preserve a sense of trust in people who are untrustworthy, safety in a situation that is unsafe, control in a situation that is terrifyingly unpredictable, power in a situation of helplessness. Unable to care for or protect herself, she must compensate for the failures of adult care and protection with the only means at her disposal, an immature system of psychological defenses.

~ Judith Lewis Herman

Judith Lewis Herman Abuse Survivors Abused Child Abusive Parents Betrayal Betrayal Trauma Child Abuse Complex Ptsd Coping Defense Mechanism Helpelessness Out Of Control Overwhelmed Overwhelming Parental Abuse Personality Personality Disorders Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Powerlessness Psychological Defence Ptsd Terrifying Trauma Traumatic Experiences Traumatized Trust Unsafe Untrustworthy