A survivors tale
I am now 54 years young and when I first told anyone about my abuse was when I was 22 years old after giving birth to my son. Very briefly I was unable to bond with him. Sadly all those years ago you were told just to put it behind you. I received some support from a social worker and put on tranquilisers to enable me to cope.
I have led what I describe as a very 'shitty' life. When I was 49 I was abused again. This time by my employer. I again for two and half years allowed this to just happen. I did not know what to do only this time I was not a child but a 49 year old women. Age did not matter.
I think the moral in my story is that if this had been sorted out when I was 22 I would not have had to live through this again.
In this age of media and Internet information it is not so easy for abusers to hide. Young people need to be helped to understand why this was done to them. I think we have all heard the words 'its not your fault' but honestly we might know the words but somehow those words do not apply to us. We must give support to the young so that they have a chance to live a normal and happy life.
What helped me was beginning counselling. It was not enough for me to just know I needed to understand why. I am learning that a lot of what has happened to me throughout my adult life started with the abuse. Whether information comes from a book or an internet site is not important. What is important is that information is readily available in the easiest format there is. For me it was so comforting to read that others had felt the same things that I had. To know that there is a way to work through the problems. Sometimes you are frightened you will go mad - I know I did - but to read that others have felt the same is comforting.
I do think that this is too big an issue for the abused to go through alone and so we need much more information and much more media support.
Thank you to your centre for the help and support that you have given to me. I will always be grateful to your counsellor for helping me to get my life back.