Be careful about what forums you post online

[Luna_Moth]

About a year ago, I posted on a subreddit for CSA survivors. I stated how I would age regress into a terrified little child when opening up sexually to someone and how I developed PTSD at the age of 3 or 4. I do not have a memory of anything because I was possibly too young to form a memory in the first place.

I do believe I mentioned about having fuzzy, dreamlike imagery when I was 4 years old. I was confused as to whether it was a dream or a memory, but I’ve come to the conclusion that I might have went through a form of derealization. It involved two white houses in the middle of the day with barely any windows. Everything kind of fades out into a room of some sort, but everything else sort of fades to black.

I ended up receiving a predatory dm by a person saying “the fact you were a toddler makes me leak precum.” That caused me to have a somatic flashback that produced a ton of physical and emotional pain. I never sobbed so much until I went through that. Plus I was already so vulnerable with the other flashbacks I’ve been having.

I did manage to have that person reported and investigated by the website’s team.

Botton line is to avoid Reddit and just stick to privately owned forums that are safer and better managed such as this one. So far I haven’t gotten any predators dm’ing me unlike that hellsite.

 

[K Uniquely.Fab]

About a year ago, I posted on a subreddit for CSA survivors. I stated how I would age regress into a terrified little child when opening up sexually to someone and how I developed PTSD at the age of 3 or 4. I do not have a memory of anything because I was possibly too young to form a memory in the first place.

I do believe I mentioned about having fuzzy, dreamlike imagery when I was 4 years old. I was confused as to whether it was a dream or a memory, but I’ve come to the conclusion that I might have went through a form of derealization. It involved two white houses in the middle of the day with barely any windows. Everything kind of fades out into a room of some sort, but everything else sort of fades to black.

I ended up receiving a predatory dm by a person saying “the fact you were a toddler makes me leak precum.” That caused me to have a somatic flashback that produced a ton of physical and emotional pain. I never sobbed so much until I went through that. Plus I was already so vulnerable with the other flashbacks I’ve been having.

I did manage to have that person reported and investigated by the website’s team.

Botton line is to avoid Reddit and just stick to privately owned forums that are safer and better managed such as this one. So far I haven’t gotten any predators dm’ing me unlike that hellsite.

I am so so sorry that you had to go through and endure that and you still are I know exactly what you're going through and feeling because the same thing happened to me but not on an online site and I too was three or four years old when I first started being sexually abused and I too don't have very much of a memory about any of it thank God. Thank you for sharing the information about watching out where you post stuff sometimes I can be careless.

 

[Friday]

So far I haven’t gotten any predators dm’ing me

Yep… We disabled DMs & PMs, in part, because of exactly this.

Also? This >>> Members Take Note - Everyone Is Not Who You May Think <<< Which, still applies to both THIS site, and every other, online.

It’s a double edged blade, the ability to connect with others online. Unparalleled benefit, the clarity of shared experience… in your own time, as & when you can. HOWEVER? Predators seek watering holes. Nuffink to be paranoid about, just something to be aware of, and act as if.

 

[Luna_Moth]

Yep… We disabled DMs & PMs, in part, because of exactly this.

Also? This >>> Members Take Note - Everyone Is Not Who You May Think <<< Which, still applies to both THIS site, and every other, online.

It’s a double edged blade, the ability to connect with others online. Unparalleled benefit, the clarity of shared experience… in your own time, as & when you can. HOWEVER? Predators seek watering holes. Nuffink to be paranoid about, just something to be aware of, and act as if.

Probably for the best honestly. It’s sad how we can’t fully connect with each other, but evil people will always go out of their way to make fun of or fetishize trauma survivors.

I did manage to join a Discord group for adult CSA survivors through there though and it’s very well run.

 

[user56652]

Agree about the need for restraint, There are some sick and evil bastards online.

 

[Dark.Green.Feathers]

Years back, I went on Reddit about something trauma-related. Didn’t get the same, but someone being equally distressing in my PMs… needless to say, I didn’t stick around.

Structure and moderation are essential for spaces like this. I think disabling direct messaging should be a must, I’ve explored another trauma-related forum, before fully settling here, what I can say is that the community constitution, and lack of private messaging makes a world of difference. From echo-chamber to something that moves us forwards.

 

[Luna_Moth]

Years back, I went on Reddit about something trauma-related. Didn’t get the same, but someone being equally distressing in my PMs… needless to say, I didn’t stick around.

Structure and moderation are essential for spaces like this. I think disabling direct messaging should be a must, I’ve explored another trauma-related forum, before fully settling here, what I can say is that the community constitution, and lack of private messaging makes a world of difference. From echo-chamber to something that moves us forwards.

I found out about this forum through a book I’m reading. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without my books.

 

[Dark.Green.Feathers]

I found out about this forum through a book I’m reading. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without my books.

Huh, interesting, how was it included in the book?

 

[Luna_Moth]

Huh, interesting, how was it included in the book?

I’m reading Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving and it mentioned this forum in the book.

 

[Shaylee]

I’m reading Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving and it mentioned this forum in the book.

That is I landed here also. Glad you are reading it.

 

[Luna_Moth]

That is I landed here also. Glad you are reading it.

It’s really opening my eyes. It’s made me realize I’ve had complex-PTSD since I was 5.

 

[Applecore]

Agree with all this about taking care and not having DMs. Also, I've started to use the "ignore" button for those people who try other routes given DM is unavailable. I'm pretty sure some people get off on posting fiction here and dragging us into their fantasies, which is a waste of our time when we are trying to recover. Fortunately, we can switch them off and move on without drama.