advertisement
Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
glowsinthedark
Member
glowsinthedark has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jan 2017
Location: Seattle
Posts: 162
5 yr Member
93 hugs
given
Default Feb 13, 2019 at 03:04 PM
  #1
Hello,

I recently started seeing a new therapist and, like many others in the past, she believes that I suffered some kind of sexual abuse as a child that I don't remember. I've been thinking about it a lot lately and am realizing that I may have had an inappropriate relationship with my mother's boyfriend, but am seeking some objective input here...

He and my mom started dating when I was 5 (parents split when I was 4) and were together until I was 13. I reached out to him when I was 17/18 and we have been very close friends ever since (I'm now 33). Here's a list of things I remember that seem a little off (but maybe I'm making something out of nothing?):

- I have very, very few memories from ages 5-7ish, but am told that I started self-harming at age 5 (scratching myself)

- around this age I also started experiencing a ton of psychosomatic stuff, was terrified of getting sick, and was also faking/causing myself illnesses and injuries a lot.

- the three of us went on a lot of trips that involved nudity (especially swimming together naked). my parents and I are not a 'naked' family, this was definitely his influence. I remember once he and I were swimming somewhere out in the desert both naked and I was riding on his back and he had an erection (around 8?). I remember this making me really uncomfortable and later on during that trip I intentionally got a bad sunburn and let mosquitoes bite me all over until my whole body and face swelled up. the three of us would also do things like visit those weird sexy hot tub places where we would all be in the private room naked together.

- I remember little sexual jokes sometimes when we were alone, like making 'penises' and 'vaginas' out of our food

- I had a lot of vaginal issues when I was little. I developed an inability to empty my bladder fully, without a clear medical cause, and I also remember having a lot of pain that would prompt my mother to give me vinegar baths in the middle of the night.

- when I was 21, he and I ended up on a road trip together and I think he wanted to sleep with me (when checking into a hotel, he asked if I wanted a room with 1 bed or 2).

- people have said he's in love with me, and he seems somewhat obsessed with very young looking/childish women. my own grandmother even said she thought we'd end up together (??!) which really disgusted me.

- I have a long history of self-harming and have since been diagnosed with bipolar, borderline (or rather personality disorder NOS, but closest to borderline), and consider myself a love/sex addict.

Anyways, I can't tell if this is all relatively 'normal' stuff or if I've just brainwashed myself over time. Please help!
glowsinthedark is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Anonymous43949, Anonymous49426, Anonymous59908, Buffy01, Fuzzybear
 
Thanks for this!
Buffy01

advertisement
Anonymous59908
Guest
Anonymous59908 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Feb 16, 2019 at 06:03 PM
  #2
WOW... that is some story. I felt your pain in every word. For certain, there are some things that concerned me.

From my understanding, there were lots of warning signs in your story. Personally, I would stay in therapy and continue to talk this out with your therapist.

I suppose some would consider that swimming naked with your parents was okay. I suppose if you grew up like this it would seem normal. But since the time of Adam and Eve most would call this behavior not normal. Because you were too young to know better and fully comprehend what was happening.

I would love to talk to you if you want to. Feel free to contact me.

Raven
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
nicoleflynn
Grand Magnate
nicoleflynn has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jan 2012
Location: rochester, michigan
Posts: 3,111
10 yr Member
60 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Feb 17, 2019 at 06:35 AM
  #3
I think swimming naked with your parents is inappropriate....it is "sexualizing" you. They were adults, you were a child.
nicoleflynn is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Anonymous59908
 
Thanks for this!
Fuzzybear
gmts
Member
gmts has no updates.
 
Member Since: Dec 2016
Location: Germany
Posts: 205
5 yr Member
6 hugs
given
Default Feb 23, 2019 at 12:42 PM
  #4
I read this post a couple of days ago and back then I kind of shrugged and thought it was hard to tell. But only now came to me all of a sudden the question about your mother: how did she handle that? I mean, what you describe doesn't sound necessarily like abuse but certainly like a little bit too close for comfort. And a mother should really see that and be really concerned about it. But the way you describe it, it looks as if she just let it happen?

Oh, and did this nudity thing go on later as well, when you were 12, 15, 19?

Last edited by gmts; Feb 23, 2019 at 12:56 PM..
gmts is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Buffy01
Wise Elder
 
Buffy01's Avatar
Buffy01 has no updates.
 
Member Since: Oct 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 9,460 (SuperPoster!)
5 yr Member
9,664 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Mar 30, 2019 at 10:09 PM
  #5
Quote:
Originally Posted by glowsinthedark View Post
Hello,

I recently started seeing a new therapist and, like many others in the past, she believes that I suffered some kind of sexual abuse as a child that I don't remember. I've been thinking about it a lot lately and am realizing that I may have had an inappropriate relationship with my mother's boyfriend, but am seeking some objective input here...

He and my mom started dating when I was 5 (parents split when I was 4) and were together until I was 13. I reached out to him when I was 17/18 and we have been very close friends ever since (I'm now 33). Here's a list of things I remember that seem a little off (but maybe I'm making something out of nothing?):

- I have very, very few memories from ages 5-7ish, but am told that I started self-harming at age 5 (scratching myself)

- around this age I also started experiencing a ton of psychosomatic stuff, was terrified of getting sick, and was also faking/causing myself illnesses and injuries a lot.

- the three of us went on a lot of trips that involved nudity (especially swimming together naked). my parents and I are not a 'naked' family, this was definitely his influence. I remember once he and I were swimming somewhere out in the desert both naked and I was riding on his back and he had an erection (around 8?). I remember this making me really uncomfortable and later on during that trip I intentionally got a bad sunburn and let mosquitoes bite me all over until my whole body and face swelled up. the three of us would also do things like visit those weird sexy hot tub places where we would all be in the private room naked together.

- I remember little sexual jokes sometimes when we were alone, like making 'penises' and 'vaginas' out of our food

- I had a lot of vaginal issues when I was little. I developed an inability to empty my bladder fully, without a clear medical cause, and I also remember having a lot of pain that would prompt my mother to give me vinegar baths in the middle of the night.

- when I was 21, he and I ended up on a road trip together and I think he wanted to sleep with me (when checking into a hotel, he asked if I wanted a room with 1 bed or 2).

- people have said he's in love with me, and he seems somewhat obsessed with very young looking/childish women. my own grandmother even said she thought we'd end up together (??!) which really disgusted me.

- I have a long history of self-harming and have since been diagnosed with bipolar, borderline (or rather personality disorder NOS, but closest to borderline), and consider myself a love/sex addict.

Anyways, I can't tell if this is all relatively 'normal' stuff or if I've just brainwashed myself over time. Please help!
I'm sorry that you are struggling right now!
Buffy01 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Fuzzybear
Wisest Elder Ever
 
Fuzzybear's Avatar
Fuzzybear has no updates.
 
Member Since: Nov 2002
Location: Cave.
Posts: 96,298 (SuperPoster!)
20 yr Member
81.2k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Apr 04, 2019 at 01:57 PM
  #6

__________________
Fuzzybear is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Nechayev
Member
Nechayev has no updates.
 
Member Since: Mar 2019
Location: Interstice
Posts: 31
5 yr Member
2 hugs
given
Default Apr 04, 2019 at 06:16 PM
  #7
Yes. What you describe is sexual abuse.
Nechayev is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:37 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.



 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.