This is a space where survivors of trauma and abuse share their stories alongside supportive allies. These stories remind us that hope exists even in dark times. You are never alone in your experience. Healing is possible for everyone.
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Thank you so much for this question. It can be so difficult to navigate situations when we are in social circles with people who have caused us harm in the past. The feelings you are feeling, while challenging, are not uncommon for people who have experienced sexual coersion the way you have. Survivors of sexual coercion and assault often feel conflicted and confused about their feelings towards the person who harmed them, especially if they knew them beforehand.
Thank you for sharing this difficult experience and for having the courage to seek clarity. Your question is not uncommon and touches on important aspects of consent and sexual abuse. In situations like the one you've described, where there was no verbal consent and you felt obligated to reciprocate even though you didn't really want to, this could indeed be considered a form of sexual abuse or coercion. Consent should always be enthusiastic, ongoing, and freely given - not something you feel pressured into or obligated to provide.
Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us. I imagine coming to that realization was extremely challenging for you and may have left you with many questions and fears. To start, I want to acknowledge your own vicitimzation that you experienced. The abuse you experienced matters and is important, despite the harm this person may have manipulated you to do in the aftermath.
Thank you for sharing your experience. What you've been through is difficult, and reaching out to us takes a lot of courage. Thank you for trusting us with something so personal. I want you to know that what you've described can certainly be a form of sexual abuse, specifically child-on-child sexual abuse. Your cousin's behavior of pressuring you to expose yourself was inappropriate and seems to be harmful to you, regardless of whether physical touching occurred. It's important to understand that sexual harassment and abuse do not need to invo...
Thank you so much for reaching out to us. First, I want to be absolutely clear: you did not deserve what happened to you. Sexual harassment and unwanted touching are never your fault, regardless of how "nice" someone is or any other circumstance. The fact that your friend group turned against you and your parents' messages were unsupportive only added layers of harm to an already painful situation.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to put your story into words, especially when you've carried this pain for so long without support. What you've described involves complex trauma - both harm you experienced and behavior that you now recognize was harmful.
Thank you for sharing something so personal and difficult to discuss. Many adults look back at childhood behaviors and wonder what they might mean, especially when they involve sexual play at a young age. Children are naturally curious about their bodies and the world around them. At age four, exploring one's body and experiencing different sensations is often a normal part of development. Using dolls in play that involves body exploration can be a way for children to understand and process new feelings, even without fully grasping what they'r...
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. It takes immense courage to reflect on and talk about such difficult childhood experiences, especially ones that have been weighing on you for so long. What you've described reflects a common pattern in childhood sexual behaviors that stem from early exposure to inappropriate sexual content or experiences. The situations you encountered with the older boys at ages 3, 5-6, and 6 sound like boundary violations where you were harmed, and it's crucial to understand that none of this was your fault....
Thank you so much for trusting us with this. What you experienced was not okay, and I want you to know that none of it was your fault. The fact that you said no and were overridden shows that your boundaries were violated, and your feelings about this experience are completely valid.
I'm really sorry to hear about what your friend went through. It can be incredibly upsetting and confusing when a parent crosses a boundary like that, and what happened to your friend was absolutely inappropriate and concerning behavior. Many parents do have intense reactions when they discover their children have been exposed to sexual content or conversations, often stemming from fear, protective instincts, or their own discomfort with sexuality topics. Parents may panic and react poorly when they feel their child's safety or innocence is at...
Thank you for reaching out to us. What you experienced was inappropriate and concerning behavior from an adult. When you were curious about kissing as a young child, your aunt responded in a way that crossed boundaries and made you uncomfortable. Your discomfort was your natural instinct recognizing that something wasn't right, and you trusted that feeling by not complying with her pressure.
Thank you for reaching out to us! It is completely understandable that you still feel affected by what happened, even after twelve years. Moments like the ones you describe, when someone touches you without asking and goes against your boundaries, can stay with you for a long time, no matter how young you were or how much time has passed. What you experienced was a violation of your boundaries and your bodily autonomy, and it's completely normal to question the nature of those experiences, especially when you cared about the person at the time.
It is not uncommon for survivors to experience a wide range of confusing and conflicting emotions and sensations after their assault, including sexual arousal. This can be especially distressing for individuals who may feel guilty or ashamed for feeling aroused in response to a traumatic event.
The healing process can be an opportunity to regain the control and autonomy that is often taken away during a traumatic experience. You are in the driver seat of your recovery and you decide how you want to navigate your healing and what’s best for you.
Thank you so much for this question. It can be so difficult to navigate situations when we are in social circles with people who have caused us harm in the past. The feelings you are feeling, while challenging, are not uncommon for people who have experienced sexual coersion the way you have. Survivors of sexual coercion and assault often feel conflicted and confused about their feelings towards the person who harmed them, especially if they knew them beforehand.
Thank you for sharing your experience. What you've been through is difficult, and reaching out to us takes a lot of courage. Thank you for trusting us with something so personal. I want you to know that what you've described can certainly be a form of sexual abuse, specifically child-on-child sexual abuse. Your cousin's behavior of pressuring you to expose yourself was inappropriate and seems to be harmful to you, regardless of whether physical touching occurred. It's important to understand that sexual harassment and abuse do not need to invo...
Thank you for sharing something so personal and difficult to discuss. Many adults look back at childhood behaviors and wonder what they might mean, especially when they involve sexual play at a young age. Children are naturally curious about their bodies and the world around them. At age four, exploring one's body and experiencing different sensations is often a normal part of development. Using dolls in play that involves body exploration can be a way for children to understand and process new feelings, even without fully grasping what they'r...
Thank you for reaching out to us. What you experienced was inappropriate and concerning behavior from an adult. When you were curious about kissing as a young child, your aunt responded in a way that crossed boundaries and made you uncomfortable. Your discomfort was your natural instinct recognizing that something wasn't right, and you trusted that feeling by not complying with her pressure.
It is not uncommon for survivors to experience a wide range of confusing and conflicting emotions and sensations after their assault, including sexual arousal. This can be especially distressing for individuals who may feel guilty or ashamed for feeling aroused in response to a traumatic event.
Thank you for sharing this difficult experience and for having the courage to seek clarity. Your question is not uncommon and touches on important aspects of consent and sexual abuse. In situations like the one you've described, where there was no verbal consent and you felt obligated to reciprocate even though you didn't really want to, this could indeed be considered a form of sexual abuse or coercion. Consent should always be enthusiastic, ongoing, and freely given - not something you feel pressured into or obligated to provide.
Thank you so much for reaching out to us. First, I want to be absolutely clear: you did not deserve what happened to you. Sexual harassment and unwanted touching are never your fault, regardless of how "nice" someone is or any other circumstance. The fact that your friend group turned against you and your parents' messages were unsupportive only added layers of harm to an already painful situation.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. It takes immense courage to reflect on and talk about such difficult childhood experiences, especially ones that have been weighing on you for so long. What you've described reflects a common pattern in childhood sexual behaviors that stem from early exposure to inappropriate sexual content or experiences. The situations you encountered with the older boys at ages 3, 5-6, and 6 sound like boundary violations where you were harmed, and it's crucial to understand that none of this was your fault....
Thank you so much for trusting us with this. What you experienced was not okay, and I want you to know that none of it was your fault. The fact that you said no and were overridden shows that your boundaries were violated, and your feelings about this experience are completely valid.
The healing process can be an opportunity to regain the control and autonomy that is often taken away during a traumatic experience. You are in the driver seat of your recovery and you decide how you want to navigate your healing and what’s best for you.
Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us. I imagine coming to that realization was extremely challenging for you and may have left you with many questions and fears. To start, I want to acknowledge your own vicitimzation that you experienced. The abuse you experienced matters and is important, despite the harm this person may have manipulated you to do in the aftermath.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to put your story into words, especially when you've carried this pain for so long without support. What you've described involves complex trauma - both harm you experienced and behavior that you now recognize was harmful.
I'm really sorry to hear about what your friend went through. It can be incredibly upsetting and confusing when a parent crosses a boundary like that, and what happened to your friend was absolutely inappropriate and concerning behavior. Many parents do have intense reactions when they discover their children have been exposed to sexual content or conversations, often stemming from fear, protective instincts, or their own discomfort with sexuality topics. Parents may panic and react poorly when they feel their child's safety or innocence is at...
Thank you for reaching out to us! It is completely understandable that you still feel affected by what happened, even after twelve years. Moments like the ones you describe, when someone touches you without asking and goes against your boundaries, can stay with you for a long time, no matter how young you were or how much time has passed. What you experienced was a violation of your boundaries and your bodily autonomy, and it's completely normal to question the nature of those experiences, especially when you cared about the person at the time.
Explore questions answered by experts to help survivors, advocates, and allies better understand trauma and the healing process.
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