Sufferer I'm A Masked Mess

[TK.]

Hello all. I'm TK, in my late twenties, married for a year and a half, an early childhood educator, and a working poet and artist. I was sexually abused as a child by a girl from school. My parents were emotionally abusive and I lived in constant fear of not living up to their high standards because of their outlandish responses. No one new about the abuse (I didn't even know that's what it was) until college. During my adolescence I became extremely depressed, suicidal, developed disordered eating and started self-harming to cope with all I kept bottled up. I've been working on things in therapy since college, but still feel like there is a long way to go at time. The flashbacks have become minimal, I'm able to have a healthy intimate relationship with my husband, and I'm alowly creating healthy distance and boundaries with my family of origin. The self-harm coping skills are the hardest to deal with, almost constantly an issue, as well as recurrent major depression episodes. I only talk to my therapist and husband about these things and am here in search of a community of support.

 

[deer_in_headlights]

Welcome, TK!

You'll find many supportive, understanding people here; with (unfortunately) similar backgrounds.
I hope you feel very welcome and safe, here! :hug:

 

[Lucycat]

Hi @TK. and Welcome to the forum.
I hope you find the information on here helpful and the people supportive - I know I have!
Regards, Lucy x

 

[JohnD]

Hi TK, I'm new here too, but it sounds like our symptoms are similar. I hope you and I find what we're each looking for,

 

[Justmehere]

Welcome to the forums!

 

[intothelight]

@TK Welcom to the forum!