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Thank you very much for your reply. I've been in therapy consistently for almost ten years. For the most part it has been a very slow process. Regarding frame of reference, I think I felt worse because I *was* asking people who have been traumatized, though possibly in different circumstances...

Content note: discussion of sexuality, mostly in general, non-graphic terms. Back story: I'm 28 and female, and was sexually abused as a young child (3-ish years old) by a relative who did not live with me. I have never had a romantic relationship in my life, nor have I ever gone on a...

Yes, it's something I worry about too, as it has happened before. It is something I discuss in therapy, fortunately. I've thought about some of the ramifications of working with someone like this, including the real estate agent, because you're right that it's a big financial decision and the...

I'm almost 30 years old and grew up having a difficult relationship with my mother, and no other mother figures growing up. My mother was emotionally and sometimes physically abusive and generally showed very little warmth. I notice that ever since I was a child I would find women who were...

Thank you for replying. I think what you say is correct. My therapist and I have talked about object permanence being an issue for me, so this likely has a lot to do with it. It is so painful, and it feels like no matter what has happened in my life, object permanence doesn't sink in...

I suppose part of it could be more young-adultish rather than childish, but it's hard for me to tell. I'm 27, so I just got out of the early twenties stage anyway. However, I feel like these issues have always bothered me more than other people my age, even when I was a bit younger. My...

Yes, I work and have other things going on as well. However, I will say that I often respond to messages faster than a lot of others around me. But again, as I stated above I understand that people do and should have other parts of their lives. Honestly, if their lives were all about me it...

I struggle a lot with wanting people I feel close to to essentially always be available. I have a very hard time when people take days to respond to me, or when my therapist takes a couple of weeks of vacation. I end up feeling very alone, like the only one who is really there for me is...

Shimmerz, I think I also am looking for validation. I wonder if I had some kind of proof -- a photo, medical records, etc. -- if some of my drive to know would decrease as well.

For those of you who don't remember everything that happened to you (including due to repressed memories etc.), how do you make peace with this? I believe I was sexually abused as a very young child, and have only very fragmented memories of this. I'm not even completely clear about who it...

Would reporting it mean that I would need to go to court? I'm not too into that part of things. Partly because I agree with you that the justice system does not work well.

Lately I have been feeling really anger about the person who sexually abused me as a child. I'm trying to find ways to express my anger. I've been really drawn to the concept of revenge, but I know logically that nothing can really feel like I've made things equal between him and me. And I...

I do feel betrayed and angry. I don't think that their reactions will change and I don't think I can continue spending time with them if that is the case. It is their pattern of denying things that they don't want to be true. It's easier to think that I'm wrong or confused than to think that...

Over the past few years I have uncovered memories of sexual abuse by my uncle (my mother's brother) from when I was little. I've told my parents about this, and even told my aunt (his wife). No one believes me or really takes me seriously. They think I'm confused or delusional. I'm trying to...

Are there any types of treatment for attachment problems in adults? I've been having difficulty with this and my therapist has said that working in a healthy therapeutic relationship helps it naturally, but I've been seeing her for years and although other problems have improved, this has...

I am a therapist in the US. I believe this is nation-wide, but could vary by state. The main reason for needing to report things is to keep people safe. So if you were abused when you were a little kid and you have a sibling who is a little kid now and living with the perpetrator, that would...

I do wonder if this is a possibility. Or even shorter but more frequent shifts. Another future option could be to work on Saturdays. If I did this, I would wonder if I could work a couple of shorter days during the week.

That's what I mean. I'm supposed to schedule ten appointments per day back to back. If they all show up then I get more money but I don't have lunch or a break, and I have to be really sure that I end my sessions on time so that the next one can start on time. I'm used to having a 10-15...

I just started a new job yesterday and I'm very worried about it. I just graduated with my master's in social work and this is my first job out of grad school. I will be a therapist, which I was/am very excited about, but now that I'm in the new job I'm really worried about all the demands...

Thank you. This is a horrible feeling. I thought that if someone responded well, I would be okay. I so want to try this, but it's so frightening and I'm afraid if I try again (with him or someone else), I'll run again. So I don't plan to reactivate my profile. It makes me sad.

Against what I still feel was my better judgment, I ran. I deleted my account and I feel horrible about it on so many levels but I couldn't take the panic. For what it's worth, that's the longest I've ever talked to a guy where things could have turned into a dating relationship. I feel...

I know, that's why I feel so bad. I've never been in this situation before. He reacted well so if anything he deserves more from me, not less.

Thank you for this. I think that is what I'll do. My first instinct after he sent that message was to give him my phone number (I'm planning to use an app that gives you a second phone number that can be easily deleted if needed), because I thought this was a very good sign. But now I'm all...

Update: I brought it up. We were talking about what we are looking for in relationships, and since sex is often part of that, it felt reasonable. He took it well, and said he is okay being patient. So it's over and went well. Unfortunately, this is making me panic. Usually, men will say...

This is good advice. I don't want to tell him early so that I can get support from him, like using him as a therapist, but more so that we can be more clear about dating expectations. I'm so unclear about how to navigate these things.