I'm not exactly sure where to put this thread, but I figured here would be a good place.
She was consistently beaten by her father until I contacted the authorities. She has also worked as a prostitute where she hurt and abused by men, and has gotten into situations where she's been taken advantage of. So it's no wonder she has some deep seeded negative feelings towards them
However, she wont acknowledge being afraid of them. She just says that she hates them, they're disgusting, etc. I'd like her to be able to form friendships with men so that she can realize that they're just people, like women are, and that not all of them are out to hurt her.
Yesterday we were going to a bookstore, walking through the isles and a man reached out in front of her to stop a book from falling. She flinched so badly into the bookcase that there's already bruises forming on her back.
I don't know how to help her confront and resolve her feelings about men, when she refuses to realize or even talk about them. I want to help her so badly, it's painful to know that interacting with men in ordinary situations makes her so uncomfortable.
She is reluctant to talk about her bad experiences in general.