Fear
I don't identify with being abused myself. My sister got the abuse. I tried to protect her but I was a child too, I couldn't. That didn't stop me being scared. I was (very) scared, with feelings of guilt!
I thought I didn't know my feelings too. I may not have been able to name them, but I could feel them and fear was one of them.
I now realise (I think through ACoA) that there are only four basic feelings MAD, SAD, GLAD, SCARED - all others are just shades of the basic four. I can at least identify that I am feeling one of those, even if I can't identify the 'shade' of that feeling.
ACoA Step 1- We admitted we were powerless over the effects of alcoholism or other family dysfunction, that our lives had become unmanageable.
How do you alleviate the fear: Extract from 'The Solution' ACoA..
As ACA becomes a safe place for you, you will find freedom to express all the hurts and fears that you have kept inside and to free yourself.... You will recover the child within you, learning to love and accept yourself