Publisher's Synopsis
If this book has reached your hands it's not a coincidence. Maybe the title caught your eye, maybe someone gifted it to you, whatever reason it might be, there's a bigger reason behind it. I want you to know that you're not alone, that you are valuable, and that you deserve to be treated with respect and love.
My name is Leigh and I suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) I've been through a lot in my lifetime, and after all these years I felt motivated to write my story and tell the world about what happened to me. When horrific things happen to us, we often tend to think that we are the only ones in the world who are suffering, that no one else will understand our pain. So, one of the reasons that moved me to write my story was that if just one person reads it and feels understood, then this book is so worth it. I want everybody to know that our past does not define us, that we are stronger than we think we are and with a little help, we can overcome anything.For me, it all started when I was a baby. I was born in New Zealand and even though I don't remember my attacker, I have a vivid memory of being molested by the time I was 18 months old. From there I have lived a life that gave me the title of this book: Born to be abused. I was betrayed by the ones closest to me, as well as by strangers in society. Back then it was a different world and I never got justice for what happened to me. Some of the events in this book I have never shared with anyone, but it is time for me to break my silence, so more people out there feel the strength to do it and achieve justice for themselves.My family consists of my parents, my older brother, my younger sister and my baby brother. Warren the oldest is just 18 months older than me. I've been mentally, physically, and sexually assaulted by him. There were many occasions when I thought that he would kill me, days that I was truly afraid for my life and I couldn't do anything about it. I had to continue to live under the same roof as him until he finally left home. It's a real tragedy and injustice when the cause of our abuse is from someone so close to us, it makes us feel like we aren't worthy of love or protection.Most of my life I have been at the mercy of the cruel winds and tides of society. But I'm here to tell you that this isn't the end and that I'm alive and well. And yes, my PTSD takes a mental and physical toll on me most days, but I continue to work on it and it's just Up from here, for you and for me. We got this! Everything you're about to read happened to me in real life, this is not a fiction story. The names and some specific details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.
