🦋 Question for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual violence, or complex trauma 🦋

[u/hey_yo_1]

I’ve been reflecting on my own healing journey recently and wondered whether there is a gap in support that I’m simply not aware of.

For many years I carried what happened to me completely alone. Since disclosing, I’ve received support through counselling, mental health services, trusted friends and my partner, and I honestly don’t know where I’d be without that support. ❤️

It has made me think about how isolating trauma can be, especially when you’re living in survival mode, struggling with anxiety, PTSD, shame, fear, self-doubt, or simply trying to get through each day.

My question is:

💭 Do you feel there is a need for more survivor-led content, podcasts, YouTube channels, communities or conversations focused on healing and recovery?

Not focused on graphic details or reliving trauma, but on topics such as:

🌿 Life after disclosure
🌿 Healing and recovery
🌿 PTSD and hypervigilance
🌿 Nervous system regulation
🌿 Counselling and therapy experiences
🌿 Relationships and trust
🌿 Identity and rebuilding your life
🌿 Finding peace beyond survival mode

Or do you feel these resources already exist and I’m simply not aware of them?

I’m genuinely curious and would love to hear people’s thoughts and experiences.

Please only share what feels safe for you. 🤍

Thank you 🙏🏻

[u/goodkidmaadcity90]

I started a server with this exact idea in mind and have been flirting with compiling resources and launching it. I used to work in mental health and was actually diagnosed with c-ptsd yesterday. A place to exchange resources is required. Its about doing it.

[u/PhoneixResurgance11]

Yes that would be helpful. The only one person I trusted to open up to about this eventually ended up trying to convince me that I dreamt it and it wasn’t real. When in reality thats the only vivid memory that I still have of my childhood. Yet when she told me about her own experiences I was supportive and did the things that made her feel better. Didn’t expect it from her considering the reactions she got from opening up in her past was with making her feel like she did something to deserve it or that she brought it on herself.

Well I haven’t been able to trust anyone else since and any sort of material that will help me rebuild that trust and make me regain my ability to be in a relationship would help immensely

[u/Stardust479]

I was in therapy as a child i was abused alot but i never opened fully about the sexual assault that happened. All i know is my abuser wasnt the one who did it so i didnt want to talk about something that most likely never wouldve been resolved. I whent through most of that recovery alone.

It could be a better way out there now with the digital age and stuff and if watching videos or reading articles about ways to cope helps im all for it. Everyone has a difference in the healing process more options the better

[u/jessyTh1rst71]

The biggest gap usually isn't the lack of services but how hard it is to explain the physical manifestations of trauma to doctors who only want to look at the mental health side of things. It feels like we have to be our own medical advocates just to get someone to acknowledge that the body keeps the score.

[u/Killjoy_draws]

It’s so hard to find these kinds of resources for CSA survivors especially those dealing with PTSD. I spent so long trying to find someone who had a similar experience to me and talked about how they healed. Especially with the PTSD because it can make daily life difficult. I can never “get over” what happened because it’s been engraved in my mind and in my instincts and there’s nothing I can do to undo it. I have good days and I have bad days but I’ll never not be carrying it with me.

I wish there were more resources. But I understand why there isn’t because the thought admitting what happened and how it affects me for everyone on the internet to see is terrifying. I want to be more then what happened but I can’t even say what happened out loud to my therapist, friends, or family. Sorry for the rambling Ive got lots of thoughts. I hope you’re doing ok <3