For survivors telling our story is an important part of the healing process. The pictures we have posted here not only represent the unfathomable number of those that were affected by childhood sexual abuse, but they also represent a community of people who are dedicated to supporting the healing and recovering journey. Please join us by submitting a picture and caption that you are comfortable sharing.
Your submissions can be scanned or e-mailed to
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or you can mail them to the address listed on the contact page.
(we will return original photos upon request)
"Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it."~Tori Amos
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 The Groomer |
Hi, my name is Tara. By the time that photo was taken I had already been subjected to sexual abuse by an unknown assailant, aged around 3 years old. My story is a long one. I was sexually abused and raped by my cousin at around 10 years old. I am still unclear how long this lasted for. I then began speaking to an internet predator at 13 and was abused for nearly 9 years. I traveled alone to meet him and he raped me 5 times during my first visit. Between the ages of 14 and 16 an older male acquaintance sexually harrassed and molested me.
After all of that I lost my way. I became a semi alcoholic and was very promiscuous. I was raped by a few more people, including a stranger, a female nurse and a male friend. The last being one of my worst rape because I nearly lost my life. Im on the way to healing now. A long way to go but I want to get better and not punish myself for the things that have happened to me via self harm and sexual encounters. I want to be free and I know some day I will be.
Hi, my name is Tara. By the time that photo was taken I had already been subjected to sexual abuse by an unknown assailant, aged around 3 years old. My story is a long one. I was sexually abused and raped by my cousin at around 10 years old. I am still unclear how long this lasted for. I then began speaking to an internet predator at 13 and was abused for nearly 9 years. I traveled alone to meet him and he raped me 5 times during my first visit. Between the ages of 14 and 16 an older male acquaintance sexually harrassed and molested me.
After all of that I lost my way. I became a semi alcoholic and was very promiscuous. I was raped by a few more people, including a stranger, a female nurse and a male friend. The last being one of my worst rape because I nearly lost my life. Im on the way to healing now. A long way to go but I want to get better and not punish myself for the things that have happened to me via self harm and sexual encounters. I want to be free and I know some day I will be. |
Emilie Autumn has a song that says, in reference to CSA, "the kind of murder
where nobody dies," and that's how I've felt all my life, since I was
molested at 8 years old. I didn't even remember why I felt so awful until I
was SA'ed as an adult, I only knew its effects on me. They were, and still
are, awful.
Emilie Autumn has a song that says, in reference to CSA, "the kind of murder where nobody dies," and that's how I've felt all my life, since I was molested at 8 years old. I didn't even remember why I felt so awful until I was SA'ed as an adult, I only knew its effects on me. They were, and still are, awful. |
 You never know the impact of one experience, until you realize you have been fighting it your whole life. |
 This is a picture of me at age 7. My older brother started me on a path of sex at this tender age. I needed a loving touch. Instead I recieved a lifetime of sexual confusion and self loathing. Its hard to say I was abused, but what would you call introducing a seven year old to sex? |
 I was sexually abused for 12 years. The abuse was severe and filled with terror so I fractured my personality and made up inside people to take my place. "It happened to her, not me." It happened and it happened to me. At the time I was alone, lonely and depressed. Insomnia plagued me all of my life. I am speaking about it for the first time this weekend at a women's convention. I believe in telling and sharing to that others can learn and be able to find their way to help stop this horrific abuse of children. Maybe the educated will tolerate and appreciate what some of us adults present when we go out into the world. Going to doctors is not a good situation since it is almost NEVER talked about in med schools. Most all programs for counselors rarely learn about dissociation. I believe that everyone who goes through severe trauma dissociates. You can find my book at my website, WWW.ASIFITDIDNTHAPPEN.COM |
 I am a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest when I was in the eighth grade. The damage from those brutal attacks dramatically altered my life and every relationship in my life since that time. I carried the great terrible secret for more than 30 years before a trip to my 25th college reunion convinced me it was time to set that burden down. I summoned the courage to tell my wife and my children as well as my parents and siblings. When I came to the realization that the Catholic Church was (and still is) protecting and caring for the man who raped me several times over a period of nine months, I contacted a reporter and forced the Diocese to admit that they were hiding yet another pedophile. I also started to write a blog, Off My Knees that has helped me exorcise some of my demons and allowed me to help other survivors including others who were abused by the same priest who raped me as a child. I have experienced very supportive reactions to my blog as well as some pretty ugly comments. I think as long as the conversation is happening, there is a chance to educate, protect and, with a little luck, prevent a child from being victimized in the future. We have a long way to go, we shouldn't try to go alone. |
 I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. I began counseling when I was 12 years old. The court mandated that I go, but my family mandated that I keep their secrets of ongoing abuse, neglect and rejection. After 27 years of secret-keeping and coping as well as I could, I looked back at my life and found a failed marriage, countless regretful decisions, completely dysfunctional family relationships, and massive personal destruction all around me. It was then that I finally got real and began taking steps toward legitimate life change and healing. Almost nine years have passed, and I barely recognize myself! On this journey, I have discovered happiness, joy, peace, forgiveness, love, trust, faith, healing, hope...and a heart for others who have also been traumatized by sexual abuse. I have been leading support groups for two years, and writing a blog for survivors of sexual abuse for one year, http://www.victoryoversexualabuse.blogspot.com/. There truly are no words to adequately describe the devastation caused by sexual abuse, but there is hope for healing - I'm living proof. |
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Photo and Caption