--- title: "I'm a 33-year-old neurodivergent man trying to understand... ~ Our Wave Community" description: "Thank you for reaching out and sharing these experiences with us. We will try to provide information to help you process and make sense of these scenerios the..." url: https://community.ourwave.org/en/answer/im-a-33-year-old-neurodivergent-man-trying-to-understand-and-classify-some-childhood-sexual-experiences-i-have-several-distinct-memories-that-im-trying-to-make-sense-of-at-age-5-i-had-what-seems-like language: en --- 🇺🇸 # I'm a 33-year-old neurodivergent man trying to understand and classify some childhood sexual experiences. I have several distinct memories that I'm trying to make sense of: At age 5, I had what seems like childhood curiosity/imitation with a peer - sleeping without clothes and possibly kissing with another 5-year-old. At age 6, I inappropriately touched/commented on a teenage boy's body without consent, which he reported to an adult. Around this age, I also had experiences of brief kisses with other children. The most significant experiences were with my cousin (same age as me) between ages 6-10. He initiated oral sex during a sleepover, something I had no prior knowledge of, but he seemed familiar with. This continued periodically when we would see each other (1-2 times yearly). I have vague memories of his teenage brother engaging in similar acts with other young children. While I didn't resist these encounters with my cousin, I'm struggling to understand if this was mutual exploration or abuse, given our young ages and that he introduced and initiated these acts. Could my early sexual behaviors indicate previous abuse I don't remember? Or was I simply exhibiting early hypersexual behavior? I'm trying to make sense of whether I was a victim or a participant in age-appropriate exploration. *Image: Dr. Laura* Answer by **Dr. Laura** PhD Mental Health Nurse & Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Topics:[Making sense of childhood experiences](https://community.ourwave.org/en/learn/topics/making-sense-of-childhood-experiences) Thank you for reaching out and sharing these experiences with us. We will try to provide information to help you process and make sense of these scenerios the best we can with the details shared. The early interactions you described at age 5-6 with peers (sleeping without clothes, kissing) often fall within the range of typical childhood curiosity and imitation of adult behavior. Children at these ages are naturally developing their understanding of boundaries, consent, and appropriate behavior, but it is understandable that looking back at this as an adult has caused you to question their impact. However, sexual activities like oral sex at ages 6-10 typically indicate exposure to sexual content or experiences beyond age-appropriate development. The fact that your cousin seemed to have prior knowledge of specific sexual acts suggests he may have been exposed to inappropriate sexual situations himself, which is further supported by your recollection of his older brother's concerning behavior with other children. Unfortunately, this can create cycles where affected children engage in sexual behaviors with peers. It's important to understand that children at these ages cannot give informed consent to sexual activities, even with peers, as they haven't developed the cognitive and emotional capacity to fully understand these actions. Physical enjoyment or curiosity doesn't equate to consent in this context, because the necessary understanding and maturity aren't present. Your uncertainty about how to label these experiences is completely normal. Many people question how to categorize childhood sexual experiences, especially when they involved someone of the same age and didn't feel forceful at the time. The presence of secrecy, your cousin's prior knowledge and initiation of these acts, and the power dynamics involved all contribute to the complexity of these interactions. Only you can label your experiences, however. It's understandable to wonder if earlier experiences or exposures led to these events. Sometimes, memories from a very young age can be hazy or suppressed. Sometimes, these things can happen without suppressed early childhood traumatic experiences. Whether or not you were exposed to something earlier, what's important now is how these experiences have affected you and how you're feeling about them. If you want to process these situations further, a trauma-informed therapist who specializes in childhood sexual experiences can provide valuable support in processing these memories without imposing any particular narrative. They can help you understand your feelings and experiences on your own terms, and explore how they might relate to your current relationship patterns. Remember that seeking understanding about your past experiences is a healthy part of personal growth. You're not alone in this journey, and many people have found healing through professional support. You get to define your own experiences and their meaning in your life, and it's okay to take time to process and understand them. Thank you again for sharing your story with us. You are not alone. 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