TW: molested when i was 5
I have been working with my therapist with a strange memory i've always had. I was never sure if it was a dream or a memory but it feels like a real memory. With more therapy, we determined that it did, in fact happen. I remember a man, i can't see his face, putting his hand up my skirt and making me sit on his lap with his genitals out. Whenever i am reminded of it, i get disgusting physical flashbacks like it's happening all over again and i feel like i cannot breathe, my breath catches. I was also in an online child pornography trafficking ring for 3 years from 11-13, probably due to the things that man did to me. Later in life, in 8th grade, an old man would follow me around every day and touch himself in front of me in public. I feel guilty, because none of this never would have happened if that disgusting man didnt touch me when i was 5 years old. I can never escape my past. I want closure so bad. I was never sure if it counts as molestation or rape because he never put his genitals inside me, so i call it "molestation." Also calling myself a rape victim would make me feel gross
@waifusula
I am very sorry for all you went through.
I think it doesn't matter how you call it. "Molestation" seems OK to me.
The fact is that you experienced several traumatic events in your childhood that left PTSD symptoms.
Fortunately, you are doing Therapy with a competent therapist, and you have made a lot of progress to determine the nature of your trauma
This will help devise the best treatment to heal your wounds.
It seems that you are on the right track, advancing at a good pace in your healing journey.
Keep going !
And keep participating in this Community !
I wish you all the best,
Marcelo.
Thank you so much for the support and validation it means more than you could say<3. The flashbacks are just hard to cope with
@waifusula
You are welcome !
You are right.
Flashbacks create so much suffering and feel so maddening, they must be a main focus of any therapy, being CBT, Exposure, etc. or therapies focalized specifically on flashbacks like EMDR.
I wish you all the best !
Marcelo.