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starbright
03-15-2009, 02:39 PM
Hi,

I don’t usually post on forums, but I am trying to get my head round something that came up in a therapy session recently and could do with some feedback I hope you can help.

When I was younger I used to go to a youth club, I had been there for a couple of years. I was pretty withdrawn and kept myself to myself a lot, but enjoyed going. I was still going when I was 17 and one night the leader of the group (in 50's I think) dropped everyone else off home first, I was the last one on the minibus, this was not that uncommon, but we pulled up and he came into the back of the bus and we started talking. I had lost my mother a few years before, relationship with my father and brother was not good. He offered me a shoulder to cry on. I opened up to him, was the first person I had 'talked' to. I got upset and he comforted me, and then started to kiss me. At this point I freaked out, ran off the bus towards home. He followed me for a short time saying he was sorry etc. the following week I went back to the club. I had said nothing about what had happened to anyone, I wanted, needed someone to care. Again I was last off the bus, but this time I didn’t run. I can’t remember when the first time we had sex was, it went on for months, after club, or I would go round to his, he was my first. It felt good, someone cared about me, but he said I couldn’t tell anyone or he would lose his job, they wouldn’t understand. Then he called me and said that it was over, he was back with his gf, I was distraught. Started drinking, self harmed, got thrown out of college and was suicidal. I found out later on that he had tried it on with a friend of mine (was also over 16) but she turned him down.

There has only ever been one person that I ever told about this before my therapist, I guess I was keeping it quiet like I was meant to. But for some time it has plagued me. He was accused of something with another member, years later. I was asked to write a character reference to defend him, but I couldn’t do it. Even though I was over the age of consent, and did consent, something now doesn’t sit right in my mind. I don’t know if it is the anger and hurt of trusting someone and being dumped or if this is something that shouldn’t have happened. Am I making a drama out of nothing? Should I chalk it up to experience and just move on?

Sorry it is a bit long, any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. :)

finding my way
03-15-2009, 04:07 PM
That guy violated you big time and belongs on a sex offender list. He was abusing his position to get sex. He harmed you greatly, and I am sorry you went through that.:mad::mad: I'm glad you are getting help.

paula
03-15-2009, 04:29 PM
Yeah! I too think he violated you! & Welcome to our community by the way!

This guy took advantage of you when you was vulnerable! All you wanted at the time was to be heard, not sexually abused! That is what he did to you!

He's had what he wanted now, you are old news in his eye's! How many more people has he done this too? Going to do this too?

He wants whats coming to him. Putting behind bars for a long time!

What do others think?

kaudio
03-15-2009, 07:56 PM
Hello starbright, welcome to the community. I do not believe that you are being overly dramatic as you have gone through a difficult experience. Rather, you are very strong for reaching out to others about this. Considering your post, I strongly agree with your decision not to defend this group leader. As finding noted, this so called leader abused his position of trust to engage in sexual relations with a child who trusted him.

Further, even though you may have been of the age of consent when this group leader approached you, most jurisdictions qualify the age of consent with conditions that prevent people from abusing positions of trust to have sex with persons of the age of consent. So, despite your consent it may be possible that this group leader's conduct towards you constitutes a crime.

Please feel free to continue sharing your thoughts with us. I too am glad that you have found a therapist you can trust enough to share these issues with.

ASchwartz
03-16-2009, 04:57 AM
Hi Starbright,

Welcome to our community.

Our members have given you excellent information and I agree fully with them. Actually, at age 17 you were below the age of consent. In addition, he was in a position of authority and you were very vulnerable. Not only would I not support him, instead, I would add my complaint against him to the list. It is really outrageous that he takes sexual advantage of you, dumps you and then asks for you support in court when he is brought up on charges. In any case, you could add your complaint or just refuse to cooperate and move on.

What you must look out for is to not blame yourself for what he did to you. Too often, the victim of sexual abuse ends up blaming herself instead of blaming the perpetrator.

Allan

starbright
03-16-2009, 12:24 PM
thanks for all your replies. :) I am so confused over it all. my reaction to actually saying it out loud was surprising, i felt so disconnected from everything, when the session was over i couldnt walk properly, and was staggering. i cant stop thinking about it all, it is going round and round in my head, i want it to stop. i looked the club up on the internet. he still there, there is a photo of the group, he is in it carrying a young girl. i dont think im strong enough to deal with this. i want it go away. my head is so full of what ifs but i cant find a definate answer

finding my way
03-16-2009, 02:38 PM
Would seeking legal council help you starbright?

starbright
03-17-2009, 01:39 AM
the thought of going down the legal route scares the **** out of me, im not strong enough to go through that, im also worried that my t will break confidentiality and report him. i dont want to hurt him, there is a part of me that still believes that i was special, that it was only me, that it was just us, he wouldnt do it with someone else. i have lied about this for so long, you know the typical 'who was your first' chats. i made someone up, even to my now ex husband. the accusation that was made was a few years ago now, im having such a hard time trying to process all this. it seems so long til i speak to my t again (will only be a week) he said i could call him if i needed to through the week, and asked me how i was going to cope before i left the session, is the first time he has said that to me. i want to call, but i am not in what i would call a crisis, i am still fighting the urges to use old coping methods, but i know if i stop fighting i wont call. i keep txting and contacting my friend, just to know that they are still there. i feel so needy at the moment, but it would be put down to attention seeking. maybe i am. i want to forget it all, go back to not thinking about it, but know that i need to work through it.

sorry for the ramble

finding my way
03-17-2009, 02:43 AM
You've had your sense of self eroded. This is a time when you need your friends and yes, I would definitely call your therapist!

nancyannee
03-17-2009, 10:46 AM
You are NOT at fault. What happened to you was wrong. I hope you find help and comfort from the awful abuse you suffered.