[healed84]

I am starting to really think it is time to really deal with what happened to me at 10 years old. Right now three people in my life knows what happend, my husband, my bff, and my T.. However, details have never been shared. In the last couple of months I have had my first flashback, and last week I had a dream about the rape, which triggered panic attacks again. I think it is time to deal with it.. but how? What does that mean? What does it look like?

Anybody have any stories of how you have or are currently dealing with rape or abuse that you want to share with me? I know 17 years of not talking about it has done more damage than I ever imagined, so I know that will be the first step.

[Butterflies Are Free]

I have been in several support groups, which is great. I also shared with my pastor and a few friends. I journal and draw. I also do quite a bit of inner child work which releases some of my anger, shame, fear, and sadness.

[healed84]

Thanks butterflies for your response. I appreciate it.

[Sannah]

Talking to your T about what happened is what is going to help you work through it.

[Ticli-Otops]

I recently started trying to deal with being molested, and raped when I was very young, and being raped more than once a little over 3 months ago. I have dreams about those things almost every night, and I always wake up panicking. But i've found that the more people that you can talk to about it...the better. The main thing that will help is being able to accept that it happened...and that it wasn't your fault, and that you can't change it. Talking about it with people WILL help. Going into details and sharing your story will bring GREAT relief. It feels really good to get everything off your chest. Good luck.

[healed84]

It is funny how something as simple as not talking or talking can make such a huge difference. For 17 years it was an untouchable topic for me, even now sometimes when T brings it up the only words I am able to get out of my mouth is I can't talk about. Keeping it all in is one of the major causes of my panic disorder. I know one thing that will make it better is talking about it. Seems so easy, lol.. of course it is not. I hope that it does get eaiser at some point. I really, really, do want to talk about it, want to heal from it and move on from it!!

[Sannah]

I think that it is not necessarily what happens to us but that we get to talk about it and process it. Think of a young child who has something tragic happen. If she can talk about it and process it ASAP she will move on from the incident in much better shape then a child who isn't allowed/assisted to process it.