--- title: Am I completely anonymous if I share my story? ~ Our Wave Community description:

Thank you for asking this before you share. Pausing to understand the space before you step into it shows real care for yourself, and you deserve a clear,... url: https://community.ourwave.org/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972.md --- {{customAnalyticsScripts}} [\[Image: Our Wave Logo\]\[Image: Our Wave Logo\]](/en/) [ Community ](/en/)[ Questions & Answers ](/en/learn)[ Find Support ](/en/resources) Share story Post a message 0 Users 0 Views 0 Reactions 0 Stories read ##### Need to take a break? 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Send it to us 🇺🇸 # Am I completely anonymous if I share my story? \[Image: Dr. Laura\] Answer by **Dr. Laura** PhD Mental Health Nurse & Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Thank you for asking this before you share. Pausing to understand the space before you step into it shows real care for yourself, and you deserve a clear, honest answer. When you share your story on Our Wave, you are not required to give your name, your location, or any information that could identify you. Anonymity, meaning the ability to share without revealing who you are, was built into this platform from the very beginning. The people who created Our Wave understood that many survivors can only speak freely when they know their identity is protected. You are in control of what you share. Our Wave does not sell your data, does not share it with outside companies for commercial purposes, and does not share your story with law enforcement. This is a space built for survivors, and protecting that space is central to how it works. And, in the spirit of giving you the full picture, there are a few things worth understanding. No digital platform can promise perfect, unconditional anonymity. What anonymity looks like in practice depends on a few things: what you choose to include in your story, the technical protections the platform uses, and the environment you are in when you access the site. Names of people, places, schools, workplaces, or very specific events can sometimes make a story recognizable to people who know you or the person who harmed you, even without your name attached. This is not a reason to stay silent. It is simply helpful information as you decide what level of detail feels right for you. It is also worth knowing that if you are using a shared device, a workplace network, or a location where someone might monitor your internet activity, your browsing itself could potentially be visible to others, even if the story you submit is anonymous. Using a private browsing window and a personal device on a private network, when that is an option for you, adds an extra layer of protection. Many survivors find it helpful to think of their story in layers. There is the emotional truth of what happened, which is always yours to share. And then there are the specific identifying details, names, places, dates, relationships, which you can include or leave out entirely based on how protected you want to feel. A story does not need to name a person, a city, or a specific event to carry weight and connect with others. You do not owe anyone the details that would put you at risk. Your story can be completely real and still be written with your safety in mind. Many people who have shared here have described writing anonymously as its own kind of relief. There is something particular about being able to say the full truth of what happened without having to manage anyone's reaction, without worrying about what your family will think or how your community might respond. That freedom is real, and it is available to you here. If you have specific questions about how your information is stored or handled, you are welcome to reach out directly to the Our Wave team at hello@ourwave.org. You can also read the privacy policy directly on the site. A trustworthy organization will answer those questions honestly, and Our Wave will. You deserve to feel genuinely informed, not just reassured. Whatever you decide to share, and however much, this community is here to receive it. Random Question 1 Upvote(s) Upvote(s) [ 0 Comment(s) Comment(s) ](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972#comments) ### Discard message? You have a comment in progress, are you sure you want to discard it? Cancel Discard ##### Similar community content Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate 0 Users 0 Views 0 Reactions 0 Stories read ##### Need to take a break? Try a grounding activity For immediate help, visit {{resource}} Show resources for \[Image: Japan\]Japan [\[Image: United States\]United States](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=us)[\[Image: Argentina\]Argentina](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=ar)[\[Image: Australia\]Australia](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=au)[\[Image: Bolivia\]Bolivia](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=bo)[\[Image: Canada\]Canada](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=ca)[\[Image: Chile\]Chile](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=cl)[\[Image: Colombia\]Colombia](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=co)[\[Image: Costa Rica\]Costa Rica](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=cr)[\[Image: Cuba\]Cuba](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=cu)[\[Image: Dominican Republic\]Dominican Republic](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=do)[\[Image: Ecuador\]Ecuador](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=ec)[\[Image: El Salvador\]El Salvador](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=sv)[\[Image: Equatorial Guinea\]Equatorial Guinea](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=gq)[\[Image: Guatemala\]Guatemala](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=gt)[\[Image: Honduras\]Honduras](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=hn)[\[Image: Ireland\]Ireland](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=ie)[\[Image: Mexico\]Mexico](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=mx)[\[Image: Nicaragua\]Nicaragua](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=ni)[\[Image: New Zealand\]New Zealand](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=nz)[\[Image: Panama\]Panama](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=pa)[\[Image: Paraguay\]Paraguay](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=py)[\[Image: Peru\]Peru](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=pe)[\[Image: Puerto Rico\]Puerto Rico](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=pr)[\[Image: Spain\]Spain](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=es)[\[Image: United Kingdom\]United Kingdom](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=gb)[\[Image: Uruguay\]Uruguay](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=uy)[\[Image: Venezuela\]Venezuela](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972?country=ve) English [English](/en/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972)[Español](/es/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972)[日本語](/ja/answer/am-i-completely-anonymous-if-i-share-my-story-972) For immediate help, visit {{resource}} Made with in Raleigh, NC | Read our [Community Guidelines](https://www.ourwave.org/en/community-guidelines), [Privacy Policy](https://www.ourwave.org/en/privacy), and [Terms](https://www.ourwave.org/en/terms) | [ #### Resources ](/en/resources) ### Post a Message Share a message of support with the community. Continue We will send you an email as soon as your message is posted, as well as send helpful resources and support. Post Please adhere to our [Community Guidelines](https://www.ourwave.org/en/community-guidelines) to help us keep Our Wave a safe space. All messages will be reviewed and identifying information removed before they are posted. ### Ask a Question Ask a question about survivorship or supporting survivors. Continue We will send you an email as soon as your question is answered, as well as send helpful resources and support. Submit ### How can we help? Tell us why you are reporting this content. Our moderation team will review your report shortly. 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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. Try another grounding activity I feel grounded and ready