0
Members
0
Views
0
Reactions
0
Stories read
For immediate help, visit {{resource}}
Made with in Raleigh, NC
Read our Community Guidelines, Privacy Policy, and Terms
Have feedback? Send it to us
Answer by Dr. Laura
PhD Mental Health Nurse & Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Thank you so much for reaching out and sharing your story with us. It takes a lot of courage to speak about something that's been weighing heavily on your mind, and I want you to know that you're not alone.
First, it's crucial to recognize that at age 11-12, you were also a child coping with significant untreated trauma. Sexual trauma during childhood can lead to various coping mechanisms and behaviors, including hypersexuality and persistent thoughts about sex, as the brain tries to process confusing experiences. Your response to trauma wasn't your fault, and recognizing this now shows growing awareness and maturity.
Children who have experienced sexual trauma often develop complicated relationships with sexual behaviors, sometimes engaging in age-inappropriate behaviors without fully understanding their implications. This doesn't make you a perpetrator - it makes you a child who needed help processing your own trauma and managing its effects. Masturbation itself is a natural behavior during puberty, but trauma can affect how and when these natural developmental processes express themselves.
The situation you describe reflects several important contextual factors. You were a young child yourself, managing untreated trauma while being placed in a caregiving role at a very young age. You attempted to maintain boundaries by seeking privacy and asking for space, even though the circumstances made this difficult. Importantly, you did not involve your sister in any sexual activity or inappropriate touching. While the behavior wasn't ideal, you were doing your best to cope with complex feelings and physical responses without proper support or guidance.
It's also important to recognize that your concern shows empathy and a strong moral compass. The fact that you're reflecting on this and worried about its impact indicates that you care deeply about others and want to do what's right.
Moving forward, working with a trauma-informed therapist could help you process your own childhood trauma, understand childhood sexual behaviors in the context of trauma, manage OCD/POCD symptoms, and develop healthy coping strategies. They can provide a safe space to explore these complex feelings without judgment and help you work through the intrusive thoughts that are causing you distress.
Seeking to understand past behaviors and their impacts shows responsibility and maturity. You're not defined by actions that occurred when you were a child dealing with trauma, and your current reflection demonstrates personal growth and genuine care for others' wellbeing. Be gentle with yourself as you work through these complex feelings. Thank you for trusting us with this. You are not alone.
You have a comment in progress, are you sure you want to discard it?
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
Members
0
Views
0
Reactions
0
Stories read
For immediate help, visit {{resource}}
For immediate help, visit {{resource}}
Made with in Raleigh, NC
|
Read our Community Guidelines, Privacy Policy, and Terms
Please adhere to our Community Guidelines to help us keep Our Wave a safe space. All messages will be reviewed and identifying information removed before they are posted.
Grounding activity
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.
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.
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.
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.
Find a comfortable place to sit. Gently close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths - in through your nose (count to 3), out through your mouth (count of 3). Now open your eyes and look around you. 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.