I can totally relate to your story. I grew up getting physically, emotionally and sexually abused by my sister, which gave me a very low self confidence. She was younger and I thought there was something seriously wrong with me for losing fights to her. I became a target at school and by neighbourhood kids and the kids teased and harassed me a lot, mostly boys. Changing room in PE was a nightmare. Avoidance and running away is the best way for me to deal with it.

Finding a good therapist helps although I have had experience with bad ones. One asked me why I didn’t fight back my sister (which I was trying) and one thought an incident was funny. I wouldn’t dismiss therapy because of some bad experience as there are some good ones out there, and they can help you.