As children, we grow and learn the ways of the world and what is right and wrong. Our parents and carers, who we rely on, are our guides. But what happens when those adults or any person asks you to do something, or someone does something to you, touches you in a way that doesn't feel right or makes you feel strange? Maybe you're told it's special or a secret, or that it's your fault. When someone who professes to love you should protect you, hurts you, it's confusing and damaging at any age, especially for vulnerable children. How do you make sense of it, escape it and cope? Tonight's episode is the Child Abuse Club.   Beth interviews three brave, astute and articulate women who speak together anonymously to share their stories of abuse when they were children and how it has affected their lives.    Some topics included in this discussion may be triggering or distressing for some listeners. If you need support, please contact Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.   Topics include:  >         sexual assault >         grooming  >          pornographic images >         emotional abuse  >         sexual responses  >         out of body experiences  >          coercion >         violence >         secrecy  >          disclosure  >          vulnerable target  >          intergenerational trauma >          multiple perpetrators >          recriminations >         social difficulties  >         brain development  >         learning difficulties    >         taboo, shameful, hidden  >         healing  >         non-abusive parental guilt >         signs of abuse  >          sleeping difficulties >          eating disorders >         running >         masking true emotions - clown face >          trust difficulties >          celibacy  >          turning to religion  >          sexually promiscuous  >          distorted true nature  >          suicide  >          family reputation  >          accusations of victim being somehow partly responsible >          distorted ideas of love, manipulation >          grooming - victim feeling sexual pleasure is an indicator of guilt, confusion   >          anger  >          whistle blower syndrome, where the victim is seen as the troublemaker  >          threats of violence >          power of the voice, of speaking out  >          self-punishment >          drugs as a coping mechanism  >