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Cinderella's story is supposed to be a fairy tale, but for some it is a reality.

Everything changed when Ari was in her life. She took care of her younger siblings at 7. She was the only one in her family who was physically abused for inane things.

The same parents who abused Sherfield treated her siblings with love, kindness and compassion.

My mom made it known that she preferred my siblings. I was forced to stay home because my siblings were allowed to go out and have fun. She would tell me that I wasn't very good.

She had to cut off contact with her family because of the experience.

People assume that abusive people treat everyone the same. It is called the "Cinderella phenomenon", which is when one child in a family is abused more than the other children.

Reports show that the Foster kids were beaten and abused. Few caregivers are punished.

'I wanted to be liked by them so badly. And I tried.'

She doesn't understand why she was mistreated. She was resistant to the changes that her family became more religious and conservative. She thought she was abused because she spoke out. No child deserves it.

Agencies received over four million child maltreatment referral reports in 2019.

Jeanette Scheid, an associate professor of psychiatry at Michigan State University, says there are many factors that relate to the risks of being maltreated.

Some kids were forced to mature from childhood trauma, not their age. Read their stories.

Abuse can be especially damaging to a child when they are targeted.

It can be even harder to go through alone if kids don't have a solid support system that brings them resilience.

She felt isolated because of being mistreated and abused by her parents.

She says that her brother and sister post on social media about how amazing her mother is and how she is always there for them. It makes me angry.

Ari Sherfield has used her TikTok platform to spread awareness about the child abuse and mistreatment she experienced.
Ari Sherfield has used her TikTok platform to spread awareness about the child abuse and mistreatment she experienced.

The oldest child may be at higher risk

The term doesn't only describe stepparents, despite being called the "Cinderella phenomenon". The term includes abusive biological parents.

The experience of Cinderella as a character hits many different things that are reflected in people's personal experiences. Some people use it to reflect on their experience of feeling separated, uncared for, unappreciated.

Jessica says her father abused her when she was 2 years old. He began to abuse her because he became fixated on the fact that she wasn't his daughter. As she got older, she says the abuse turned physical.

Jessica Rosacker says she was singled out by her father in his abuse when she was only 2 years old. Her younger siblings were left unscathed.
Jessica Rosacker says she was singled out by her father in his abuse when she was only 2 years old. Her younger siblings were left unscathed.

As the oldest child,Rosacker hid the abuse from her siblings.

It is not uncommon for the oldest child to experience the most abuse.

Sometimes abusive parents change as they gain more experience with their kids, and sometimes the older child is put into a position.

It can take a lifetime to overcome trauma

Over 7 million kids were affected by child abuse and mistreatment in 2019.

Kids with disabilities are more likely to be abused and neglected. A child who embodies a physical reminder of someone triggering from a parent's past may be targeted.

It is important to encourage victims to seek help. The report found that less than half of children received prevention and post-response services. These children are at higher risk for mental health issues, so trauma-informed care is important.

Paris Jackson said she was traumatised by the photographers. What is trauma?

It took years for her to overcome the abuse.

How you are treated affects your relationships. I had to change the behaviors I was shown as a child. She says she has had to learn how to manage her anger correctly, how to communicate without shutting down, and not wanting to bring up issues because she is scared of being yelled at.

She says she did everything she could to break the cycle for her own children.

She says that she now have two kids of her own, and they are living her childhood dream. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't let my kids relive my childhood. I have kept my word.

The most intense violation of my life was a beloved camp, a lost boy and the lifelong impact of child sexual trauma.

Jess Rosacker, 20, and her two kids.
Jess Rosacker, 20, and her two kids.

The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached at 1-800-4-A-CHILD. You can report child abuse or neglect by contacting law enforcement or child protective services.

The article originally appeared on USA TODAY.

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