In Southeast Asia, wild elephants are trained to be docile while young.
When an immature elephant is first captured, it is securely tied or chained in place, so that its will may be broken. Unable to escape and denied food or water, the little elephant is repeatedly beaten while the trainer speaks in a calm voice to acclimate the elephant to commands. Afraid, in pain, hungry, and thirsty the young elephant is finally forced to submit.
Adult elephants would be strong enough to break free, but continue to believe in the power of the chains to hold them.
Could there be a more clear picture of child abuse? We were repeatedly assaulted, at our most vulnerable. It is no wonder the scars linger.
Now adults, we, too, have the power to break free from our chains. The very knowledge is exhilarating.
But the extent to which release from our scars is possible will vary from one individual to the next. For most, this will be a process. Setbacks should be expected.
There is no standard for suffering. Each victim is unique. Release from our scars is not a test of our worth, a calibrated measure of our recovery, or a competition with other victims.
Continued bondage is not another reason to berate ourselves. Some scars may be intractable. But there is reason to hope.
“Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, ‘Arise quickly!’ And his chains fell off his hands” (Acts 12: 7).
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
As a vegetarian, that about the elephant, pained my heart…
Perfect analogy, Anna.
Thank you, Bill. I always value your in-put.
In humans , instead of chains , they use psychiatric drugs/medicines.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Riley
While psychiatric drugs can be helpful, they can, also, be misused. Rebecca Riley died at the age of four from high doses of prescription drugs. Her parents, who had a history of neglect and abuse, were found guilty of murder. Their other children were removed.
Psychiatric drugs can be helpful to who? To the person with the power. The drugs are in invisible beating to get the other to behave by force.
I do not claim to be an expert on psychiatric drugs. They do help some patients gain better control over their feelings and behavior. Individual experiences, of course, vary. I am sorry your own experience was such a painful violation.