Award-winning author and child abuse and domestic violence survivor, Tom North, speaks out and says “NO MORE” to domestic violence and child abuse.
In my own family, the result was that every one of us carried into adulthood the burden of traumas we suffered as children.
Carmel, California (PRWEB) October 31, 2014
Tom North, the award-winning author of True North - The Shocking Truth about "Yours, Mine and Ours", is speaking out about domestic violence and child abuse. His recent article,How Children Carry the Weight of Domestic Violence, is featured on the Chronicle of Social Change website, and is a call to action for all who want to help.
North remarks, “I speak about this from first-hand experience.”
Tom North is one of the eight North children, who together with the ten Beardsley children, became the family which was featured in the 1968 film, “Yours, Mine and Ours” starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda, and again in the 2005 version starring Rene Russo and Dennis Quaid.
North continues, “My stepfather was abusive on every level; physically, emotionally and sexually. His constant rage, disapproval and controlling personality left deep emotional scars. And, to make matters worse, because we were famous, our family hid this from the outside world so we each suffered in silence. Lacking any sense of self-worth, the toll I paid was enormous.”
Domestic violence and child abuse is a world-wide epidemic that affects people in every community. It knows no boundaries of economic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background. It is estimated that 10 million children witness some form or domestic violence every year. These children suffer emotional and physical trauma and may experience frequent illnesses, developmental delays in speech and cognitive skills, and even may become self-injuring and use aggression with other kids, or even their mothers. As they grow older, they have a higher risk of alcohol and drug abuse, depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and serious, chronic health conditions.
North explains, "In my own family, the result was that every one of us carried into adulthood the burden of traumas we suffered as children. I have spent my entire adult life unwinding these stresses and rewriting the misperceptions and poor mental programming I brought with me from my early years of suffering from anxiety, fear and depression.
“Almost every day I hear from adult survivors just like me who want to reach out and help. I invite people to please stand up with me and say: ‘NO MORE!’ Join me in supporting agencies like NO MORE, and make a difference in the life of a child and volunteer at your local CASA for Children."
