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My mother would torture me for at least eight hours a day for a solid year once, using a variety of ice-water enimas, burning me with matches, burning me with cigarettes, even at one point hanging me up-side down for about six hours, burying me, using me as a float when we were in a ship wreck-- she actually used me as a life preserver, she just wrapped me around herself and didn't care whether I breathed or not, tried to use me one time to stop up a leaky gas valve in our kitchen, just said, 'Put your lips over that thing.'

Phil Hendrie#360

FamilyPsychologyAbuseTrauma

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker recounts severe childhood abuse by his mother, describing various extreme tortures and neglect.
In plain terms
He describes being tortured by his mother for long periods using water, fire, hanging, and other harms.
What can you take from it?
Extreme childhood abuse can leave lasting trauma.

Where it applies

  • personal testimony
  • psychology

Putting it to work

  • raise awareness
  • seek help

Questions to consider

  • What coping mechanisms help survivors?
  • How can society better protect children?

Another view

The graphic detail may be triggering for some readers.

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