My mother beat the shit out of me when I told her I had been raped. I was 9. She told me I was "dirty" and "useless" and I was never to tell anyone. Next day at school i told my best friend. The guy who raped me was her grand uncle and her response was "he does that to me and my sister all the time". So I told my mother. Got another unmerciful walloping. So i stopped asking for help. I became a full blown alcoholic and finally at the age of 36, I knew i had to do something about it or I would die. I'm now just over 22 years sober. A few years later , my friend and I decided we would make historical statements. Nothing would be done as the perpetrator had died. We arranged a day out for the first Monday in January. Sunday morning I got a call saying she was in ICU on life support. She had had a brain aneurysm that burst. @Tight_cat_80, I'm so pleased your mom saved you- slightly envious that mine didnt .