It is common for all sexual abuse survivors—regardless of their age—to feel a plethora of mixed emotions after the abuse. Many survivors feel massive waves of guilt. Remember, guilt and shame are not your burden to carry—it is your abuser’s. When you keep what happened to you a secret, you may unintentionally hold on to feelings of grief, guilt, anger, fear, and/or shame. Regardless of the relationship you have with your abuser, they have no right to be protected. If your abuser did not want what they did to be exposed, then they should not have done what they did to you.
Cope With the Long-Term Impacts of Trauma
Sexual abuse trauma can have a lasting impact list of poland whatsapp phone numbers on individuals. Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse who keep their abuse hidden often experience worse long-term effects from sexual abuse than those who can talk about what happened to them. Though it can be incredibly difficult, being honest with yourself about the trauma you have endured can help you from holding onto that experience in a negative way. If you do not address your trauma, then it is likely to resurface for a long time in different forms.
Get Justice
Another important reason to open up about what happened to your parents is to pursue justice. There are laws in place to protect child abuse survivors, such as exceptions to the abuser’s Sixth Amendment rights that allow child sexual assault survivors to be interviewed outside of a regular courtroom. In many states, the time limit for filing a civil sexual abuse lawsuit has been extended to ensure that child sex abuse survivors can seek justice years after the abuse. It is best to consult with an experienced child sex abuse attorney who understands the specifics of your case and can help accordingly.
How to Talk to My Parents About Sexual Abuse
There is nothing about you or what you did that could make sexual abuse your fault. Keep that in mind as you approach your talk with your parents. Here are some tips on how to bring up the conversation about sexual abuse to your parents:
Write down your thoughts in advance. This can help you speak your truth, even if your voice shakes.
Choose a good time to talk about what happened. Make sure your parents do not have obligations they will need to tend to. For example, you can speak to them over a free weekend.
Prioritize your safety and comfort. Don’t rush yourself. Feel free to take a break if at any moment you feel triggered or your safety is at stake.
Be open and honest. Do not hold back details to save face, spare your family’s feelings, or for any other reason.
What If My Parents Do Not Believe Me?