Triggering (Sexual Abuse) - Fear of being touched.
I've got this terrifying fear of being sexually abused/raped, which is making me so afraid of being touched. It's always been there, and I do mean always, but it's getting worse and worse, to the point where I shy away from any touching.
Any idea as to what I should do to alleviate this fear?
has anything ever happened for you to think those things?
i'm not sure what you can do. have you spoken to anybody about this (it doesn't have to be somebody of authority, just a friend/parent/relative)? i think that the best way to try and get over it is probably just to face your fears, heh. but take it in baby steps. do you hug your girl-friends often? maybe you should start with something simple like that, or hugging your mother or somebody you're close to, just to be able to get comfortable with somebody touching you in general.
or wait, do you mean like sexual touching? or anybody touching any part of your body?
you have to find someone you really trust and build up from there :) I have one friend who is allowed to touch me, the rest of the time I just flinch away from people. I'm getting better though, because every time I let my friend hug me, and nothing bad happens as a result, I grow in confidence
xxx
It takes a long time.
For the first time i've let someone touch me. Like not just a fleeting hug/kiss.
You have to have trust, and believe me it's terrifying but sometimes you have to take that leap of faith.
Do you have anyone you can talk to this?
Like linder suprise said, perhaps start with hugs with family/friends?
Build up slowly. & Try not to rush yourself.
Some things take time.
Good luck.
<3
"I'll lean on you and you lean on me and we'll be okay"
I agree with what has been said above, try small things with someone you trust and take baby-steps. even if it starts with something as little as them touching your arm/shoulder for a second or two, its all progress
take it at a speed your comfortable with or you could end up going backwards
hope things get better for you xxx
I'm Angela's (dancing loony) guard dog, I'm Comatostatic's Squishy
Comatostatic is my Plague rat in a top hat
Nothing has happened to make me feel this way, and that's why I'm so upset/worried about it. I just feel so stupid for being afraid, when nothing like that has happened to me...
which is probably why I haven't told anyone that I feel this afraid. I just feel like they would assume I was either looking for attention or overreact and assume that someone had abused me like that, even if I told them that nothing ever had.
I mean any touching, and it's okay with some people that I guess I really trust, which is basically just my parents.
Don't worry too much about it. Some people have fears of things that don't seem to make sense. Personally, I don't like physical contact, but I have reasons behind that.
The best thing to do is try to stay calm in a situation that involves contact. If someone touches you by accident, just take a deep breath and tell yourself that it was only an accident and that they're not going to hurt you. Similar to contact with people you know, on purpose - for example, a hug or a pat on the arm. The best thing is to stay calm and try to overcome your fear. Do it a little at a time, at your own pace. For example, make it your mission to hug a certain person every day, or not wince when people do touch you by accident.
You're not alone in this, don't worry. And I hope it gets better for you soon.
