0
Members
0
Views
0
Reactions
0
Stories read
Need to take a break?
For immediate help, visit {{resource}}
Survivor story
#1533
Original story
I was sexually abused by my older cousin for a prolonged period of time. The details are very hazy but I was about 9 to 11 and he was about 22. Remembering this experience and coming to terms with what was really happening took years and I had no professional help. I also realized I engaged in similar behaviors with my younger sister probably at the same time. The whole experience is a mess in my mind I don’t know what exactly happened and when but I know it’s true. I don’t know if my sister remembers but I once opened up to her very briefly about my cousin and asked her if he did anything to her as well and she told me she didn’t remember anything of that sort. Recently the whole thing keeps coming back to me and I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if talking to her openly about it would make things better or worse. I’m having a very hard time with what I’m feeling because I know I was a child and I had no idea what was really going on but I know I have to take responsibility for what happened anyway. I don’t have access to professional help and I have no idea how to properly navigate this. I love my sister and I feel ashamed that I harmed her in any way and I want to fix this. I’m afraid talking about this with her will ruin our relationship forever but at the same time I don’t know how we can go on without discussing it and without me apologizing to her. Please help me
Just Checking...
Discard Message?
You have a comment in progress, are you sure you want to discard it?
0
Members
0
Views
0
Reactions
0
Stories read
Need to take a break?
For immediate help, visit {{resource}}
Please adhere to our Community Guidelines to help us keep Our Wave a safe space. All messages will be reviewed and identifying information removed before they are posted.
Grounding activity
Find a comfortable place to sit. Gently close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths - in through your nose (count to 3), out through your mouth (count of 3). Now open your eyes and look around you. Name the following out loud:
5 – things you can see (you can look within the room and out of the window)
4 – things you can feel (what is in front of you that you can touch?)
3 – things you can hear
2 – things you can smell
1 – thing you like about yourself.
Take a deep breath to end.
From where you are sitting, look around for things that have a texture or are nice or interesting to look at.
Hold an object in your hand and bring your full focus to it. Look at where shadows fall on parts of it or maybe where there are shapes that form within the object. Feel how heavy or light it is in your hand and what the surface texture feels like under your fingers (This can also be done with a pet if you have one).
Take a deep breath to end.
Ask yourself the following questions and answer them out loud:
1. Where am I?
2. What day of the week is today?
3. What is today’s date?
4. What is the current month?
5. What is the current year?
6. How old am I?
7. What season is it?
Take a deep breath to end.
Put your right hand palm down on your left shoulder. Put your left hand palm down on your right shoulder. Choose a sentence that will strengthen you. For example: “I am powerful.” Say the sentence out loud first and pat your right hand on your left shoulder, then your left hand on your right shoulder.
Alternate the patting. Do ten pats altogether, five on each side, each time repeating your sentences aloud.
Take a deep breath to end.
Cross your arms in front of you and draw them towards your chest. With your right hand, hold your left upper arm. With your left hand, hold your right upper arm. Squeeze gently, and pull your arms inwards. Hold the squeeze for a little while, finding the right amount of squeeze for you in this moment. Hold the tension and release. Then squeeze for a little while again and release. Stay like that for a moment.
Take a deep breath to end.