You might be nervous about reaching out for support, and you may find it useful to read about other people’s experiences.
This may also give you an idea of what the next steps might look like.
Remember, there is no right or wrong way to react, think or feel.
Kim’s story
“Now I’m older and I can see what those behaviours looked like from an adults perspective; I understand how extensive that harm is. In a way, that has helped me come to terms with it. I wasn’t complicit and it was not my fault.”
Sophie’s story
“I went seven years without telling anyone and then I realised it wasn’t my fault, and I needed to get the right support.”
I was sexually and physically abused from the age of nine until about the age of thirteen. It wasn’t until I started struggling at work, as an adult, that I thought about reaching out for support. I started self-harming and it became quite frightening. I found specialist support at a group therapy session for male survivors. After walking around the block a few times, I finally managed to go inside. The magical thing about group therapy is hearing your experiences coming out of someone else’s mouth. You realise that you’re not alone.
John, Sexual Abuse Survivor