Healing from Childhood Abuse Through Faith, Reflection, and Hope
My memoir, The Secret Darkness, and Abuse Journal, my faith-based resource for survivors, help readers understand the lasting effects of childhood abuse and domestic violence, explore healing through personal reflection, and discover hope through biblical wisdom and God’s grace.
L.M. Carleton – Rescued by Grace
I’ve learned that acknowledging the past does more than uncover painful memories.
It gives us the understanding to recognize how childhood abuse, neglect, and domestic violence have shaped our lives. That understanding becomes the foundation for personal growth, healing, and the freedom to choose differently.
At forty-eight, an unexpected encounter with my estranged husband on a dating website became a turning point. God used that moment to stop me from running from the past.
I began writing as a way to release years of pain and unanswered questions.
As I reflected on my childhood and the years I spent in an abusive marriage, hidden memories surfaced. I wrote honestly about childhood trauma, domestic violence, and the long-lasting effects abuse had on my life. Through that process, I began discovering lessons, biblical wisdom, and hope that I now share with other survivors.
Domestic Violence Questions Every Survivor Asks
Domestic violence leaves survivors with questions that don’t disappear overnight. Some questions come immediately after the abuse ends. Others surface months or even years later as healing begins. I know because I asked many of these same questions myself. After surviving more than three years of domestic violence, I spent years trying to understand what had happened, why it happened, and whether healing was truly…
After Ten Years, The Secret Darkness Is Complete
As you may know, I started writing on Tumblr to release the anguish of abuse—all the pain buried for years. Why Did You Start a Reflective Life Writing a Blog At first, the memories came in bits and pieces—scattered reflections of childhood, broken relationships, and living in fear. The more I wrote, the more memories spilled onto the page, as tears flowed for the first…
The Value of Reflective Writing for Abuse Survivors
Hello again! It’s been two years since you’ve read a new reflective writing post on Abuse Journal. I must confess that reflecting on the past took a toll on my emotions. I asked myself; How far do you want to look back, how deep do you want to dig to uncover the moments in life that keep you downtrodden? I stopped looking back on the…
About Abuse Journal
Childhood abuse can leave wounds that shape the way we see ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. But our past does not have to determine our future.
Through honest reflection, personal stories, biblical wisdom, and faith-filled encouragement, Abuse Journal offers adult survivors hope and guidance as they seek healing, spiritual growth, and freedom through God’s grace.
More than a memoir, The Secret Darkness is an invitation to every survivor who wonders if healing is possible. It is a story of resilience, redemption, and the life-changing hope that your past does not have to define your future—and that freedom can be found beyond yesterday’s shadows.
L.M. CARLETON
Rescued by Grace