Dear Teentalker,
Home and family are supposed to be safe spaces. Perhaps you feel betrayed, helpless and confused while replaying the memories. I know you wish you could have stopped the molestation, but feeling like you are paralyzed is really natural – sometimes your body literally freezes from fear and shock when it senses danger. Here are a few active steps you can take to help yourself:
In Brief:
- Remember that none of this was your fault – you are not to blame
- Your safety is important - try not to be alone with.....
Dear Teentalker,
Home and family are supposed to be safe spaces. Perhaps you feel betrayed, helpless and confused while replaying the memories. I know you wish you could have stopped the molestation, but feeling like you are paralyzed is really natural – sometimes your body literally freezes from fear and shock when it senses danger. Here are a few active steps you can take to help yourself:
In Brief:
- Remember that none of this was your fault – you are not to blame
- Your safety is important - try not to be alone with your uncle
- Although difficult, consider talking to another adult or friend
- Find your Safe Space that you can retreat to when you feel overwhelmed by thoughts, memories and feelings
Read on to understand how you can do the above.
First, your safety is of utmost importance. Make sure that you are not alone with your uncle at any point. Maybe you can stay in your room when he’s around or keep yourself busy with other family members. Sometimes people who live in joint families find this difficult since kids are expected to obey their elders - however would confiding in another adult at home would help make that easier for you?
If you can’t speak to a family member, perhaps you could talk to a teacher you trust? Sometimes just knowing you can talk to someone can feel like a relief. And although home may not feel so safe anymore, you could create a little safe space for yourself anyway. A safe space doesn’t have to be a physical location, but could be reading, writing, playing alone or with friends or cousins, music – doing anything where you can relax and makes you feel confident that you won’t be bothered or harmed.
Hope this helps, if you have any other query do connect online for chat between 11am-8pm or drop us an offline message.
Regards,
Expert Teentalk India
