[ACrystalGem]

My main abuser liked to take photos of me in sexual situations he put me in as a very little child. I only remember seeing one as a teenager, and it freaked me out. It has taken me decades to get used to having my photo taken by people I don't know, but with the advent of selfies, I've become more comfortable.

What's still hard for me is seeing photos & Youtube vids, when people (in non-sexual situations) suddenly become sexual. I enjoy watching fashion try ons and hauls, but lately I've noticed more and more of them have turned sexual when they weren't before. Example - a woman showing a pretty top she bought, suddenly revealing her boobs or bra as part of the show. These things trigger me like crazy - the same movements and ways of "flashing" that I was made to do. I'm usually okay if I know it's about bikinis or bras, or if I'm warned beforehand. I'm also okay with straight-up erotic pics if I know what's coming. I just wish these sudden images didn't trigger me so much, especially as my memories of that period of abuse are hazy (age 3 -8) and I'd like them to stay that way. Trigger warnings mean a lot to me, but they seem a mystery to most non-abused people.

[gmts]

I'm so sorry to hear about what you had to go through. And I very well understand what you are talking about. Have you considered EMDR to treat this?

[ACrystalGem]

Originally Posted by gmts

I'm so sorry to hear about what you had to go through. And I very well understand what you are talking about. Have you considered EMDR to treat this?

Thanks for the suggestion but That's not really available in the UK on the national health service. I'm having a hard time just accessing basic therapy.

[gmts]

If money is an issue there, you can theoretically do it yourself if you know how to create videos

[Amyjay]

I can relate to your post. My abuse involved pornography and I get very triggered by many images too. When they are not expected is the worst. in this day and age you tend to come up against nonexpected images a LOT. I have turned on parental censorship on my computer (i am an adult) so I manage to avoid a lot of it but it still comes up. its awful.

[gmts]

I'm so sorry to hear that. And I can only repeat that EMDR is very helpful to dissolve such triggering situations.