A man exposed himself to me today

[EveHarrington]

Eve, you totally did the right thing in that situation.

You did exactly what you needed to do to not get yourself hurt. Also, you did the right thing by reporting it to the staff - morally, that was the right move.

You prevented escalation, notified people who could do something about it, and got yourself out physically unharmed.

Good job.

I really wish it hadn't happened though. I dread shit like that happening.

I would definitely go over this incident with your therapist, psych, or whoever you see for mental health stuff. They might be able to help you adjust and stabilize so you can avoid hospitalization.

Edit: I want to add - even if you hadn't reported it to the staff, you'd be totally fine just running away. You have no responsibility other than keeping yourself safe. You tellin the staff is just a bonus "hey you did a good thing!" to add.

Thank you!

Yes, this was the LAST thing I needed! I’m coming off my mood stabilizer because it is giving me breathing issues. I really really really need to work hard at staying stable so that I don’t go inpatient again. I am sure this will take up most of my therapy session tomorrow. Oh and to boot, my doc is on his 2 week vacation so no serious med adjustments or additions until he comes back. (Its impossible to explain 9 years of psych history to an on call doc who only talks to you for five minutes!)

When it rains, it pours!

 

[Emotional girl]

So sorry that you had to go through this.My thoughts go out to you x

 

[hithere]

I think you did everything right and I don't think there is one thing you could have done differently. At all. Really sorry you had that happen. Everything you did was actually perfect. Your instincts were right on--even if you weren't already coping with the meds issue, leaving immediately was the best response. The manager and employees need to know who in their store is not welcome and harming patrons. I hope today is better.

 

[Chiqui]

So sorry. That's very nasty.
(McDonald no good, don't go)
Take care of yourself

 

[Sweetleaf]

One thing I would like to say - my pdoc told me I should avoid situations that might contain shifty or dangerous people, until I get more stable and capable of coping with being around that sort of shit - but also, that I should just avoid it because it's more dangerous than alternative things.

So for me, it was gas stations in the middle of the night.

For you - it's McDonalds.

The person who raped and abused the shit out of me used to work at a McDonalds - so I avoid them like the plague because they make me think of him - but from what he told me (ugh f*ck him I hope he f*cking chokes to death or gets hit by a f*cking train or something horrible) there are a lot of -really shifty people- and really bad, dangerous, unruly people who go into McDonalds restaurants, at any hour of the day.

The same one he worked at (obligatory f*ck him) eventually had someone fire shots at someone in the car in the drive through.

When you're more stable, maybe you can return to going to fast food places, or McDonalds, or wherever. But, it honestly wouldn't be a bad idea to avoid those places all together. At least until you get things more stabilized.

 

[blackemerald1]

Well done @EveHarrington - I cannot think of anything else you could have done.

Take care :hug:

 

[Muttly]

I'm really sorry that happened to you. And I will add that you did the right thing. I would have never thought about taking a picture and even if I had, I couldn't have done it. You reported it which was brave. You removed yourself from the situation which was smart.

I hope you can do some self-care and get some support from your therapist. I'm sorry you're struggling so much.

 

[frogthroat]

Goddamn, the world is a zoo. It's good you did what's best for you. It's pretty sad the only way he can get off is to flop his junk out in McDonald's hoping someone will see.

 

[Neverthesame]

You did absolutely the right thing Eve, your safety is paramount.

One day he's going to do this to a woman who will point at his sad little pecker and laugh her ass off.
Or kick the shit out of him... or both...
f*cking pervert.

 

[EveHarrington]

Therapy was rough today.

My therapist said it was a sexual assault and that I did the right thing by getting myself to a safe place.

People have been supportive for the most part. One guy friend of mine made penis jokes when I told him. I’m not too happy with him right now so I’m keeping my distance from him. I’m not sure if it was an incredibly stupid judgment call made in the moment or if he really thinks this is funny. I’m too dissociated right now to think about it.

 

[Abstract]

So sorry Eve. Pathetic idiots like these are not what anyone wants to have to deal with. Way worse of course if one has a history of sexual trauma. Triggering.

 

[Nessa7]

You did the right thing. Not confronting him might have made it easier for the manager to apprehend him to at least ban him from the restaurant.

We have kind of the same thing here with everything happening at one fast food place. Nothing good happens at our Arby's. I get my post-psychiatrist appointment slushies at Burger King now.

Has anyone else had to deal with this?

A man exposed himself to me while we were waiting for a bus at a bus station. I said something once I was no longer alone with him, but I think it was probably too late for anyone to do much about it. Hopefully, his appearance was unusual enough for someone to recognize him.