How do I go through life every day without thinking about child abuse?

I witnessed severe child / adolescent abuse when I was growing up, not only by my mother to my sister but also by a male & female friend of my mothers, to their son. It has been 20 years since I've heard the sound of a belt on bare skin and the cries and screams, yet everyday I hear it in my head. I can not go to sleep at night without thinking about it. When I read in the newspaper or hear on the news about a case of child abuse I cry uncontrollably, my stomach gets in knots, & I get the sweats. I'll obsess about it for weeks/months. If I'm out & hear a child crying I go to see if the parent(s) are hitting them. If I hear any noise of smacking (even if someone is outside doing work on their house) I break down. I've taken medication, I've been to counseling and I go through everyday still waiting for the day where I won't think about it. Please help me...

you might have PTSD...i know it's horrible to witness that i get very upset that's one of the reasons i stopped eating meat b/c of animal cruelty...
just try to think of it as something that happend in the past you can't control it..some people are assholes..the abusers must've had some mental illenss/depression that was never treated and took it out on the innocent..don't think that everybody is an angel this world is effed up..just try to make your life better maybe you need some anxiety medication.

well it sounds like a very bad memory, your best bet would be to start your life new.
try meditating frequently, doing stuff that you like, think peacefull thoughts for about an hour before you go to bed, and don't let it come into your mind, the more you think about it, the longer it will stick in your mind

Since you have already been to counseling, and medication, there is only one thing left that I can think of. I don't know if you are religious or not. I am not trying to preach to you. But, I am just going to say that I have been with people that have been in abusive situations or witnessed abuse. And the one thing that helps them cope with the horror that they saw or experienced was their religion. Just the calming effect that prayer and scripture study has given is remarkable. Maybe religion is not your thing but it may help. Good luck with your search for happiness.

"For God so loved the world that He Gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whosoever would believe on Him will not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)