Advices

[lolllllllll]

Hi,

I was molested at a young age, I feel like it has been giving me random anxiety moments. Ofc, seeking therapy is the go to answer, but I have never really been comfortable sharing this with anyone in person. I am a 19 years old female, I guess I have never really seek therapy because I didn't want anyone around me to know, especially my parents. Any advice?

[Hidden]

Hello lollllll. I think you are so brave to share that on here with us. The thing about therapy is it is totally confidential. Your therapist will not share anything with your family or friends. Some therapist specialise in abuse and you will not shock them by what you say. I think therapy is the only way to overcome such trauma. I wish you luck.

[fauxartist]

Thankfully you’re getting help now and that there is now a much more empathetic embrace in therapy to those of us who had been traumatized as kids. You’re not alone here. I and sadly many other members have also been left with the aftermath of learning to live with what had happened to us as kids. The best thing for you to also do... is keep talking about it, share what you’re comfortable with...you’re anonymous and that gives you the safety to share openly. Every time we share, it takes a little more power out of our pain, and it's cathartic. Many here are the walking wounded, damaged from this kind of attack on our innocence which was stolen from us, along with our ability to trust, and for some of us we are trying to regain our self esteem, and self worth.

None of this was your fault, you were the kid, and they were the adult. You didn’t do anything to deserve this, cause this, or were in any way responsible in any way for what happened to you.

I didn't start on this journey really till my thirties....years and years lost to this ...the saving grace for you is you now have support. Use all the resources’ you can, and find whatever you need to help you....there is joy in life, there can be happiness, and when we get help, we have already started the healing. You may never completely overcome some of what had happened, but you can learn to live with it, and not let what happened dictate how you live your life.

[abbeyainscal]

Yes, find a private, trusted person, therapist or otherwise and tell them - even the act of talking through it will help in ways you cannot imagine....the first time is the hardest....it will get easier after that. You feel shame, you may blame yourself - utterly normal but NOT correct. Been there.....

[Rachel2535]

I was sexually abused at 5 this destroyed my life and caused depression and years of suicidal tendencies. My heart breaks to hear you were hurt. Therapy would be the best decision and no one would have to know because you are an adult. One of the most helpful books for me was Mending the Soul by Steven Tracy. Working through it with a therapist would be advisable. Please know you are not alone and thank you for reaching out. Praying for you - Rachel