How do we learn to trust when we have been taught to distrust?

As babies we automatically trust. We reach out in absolute trust to our mother and care takers for our food, for a smile, for love and affection. But then something goes wrong and maybe a game is played where the toy we’re being handed is jerked away for example. If it is done enough times we will not trust the one playing the game. It can become cruel in the mind of the child and trust is lost.

That’s a very simple illustration of one way trust can be lost. What about when a child is sexually abused? The trust factor shoots off the scales. Distrust is learned. The one the child trusted has destroyed any possibility of trusting him/her again. The child is taught to distrust! It doesn’t matter how many times the abuser says, “You…