I was raped as a child. From eight years old, and this went on for many years. It started out brutal and violent before turning into a loving, Stockholm Syndrome situation; feeling love for my abuser through grooming and manipulation. Having been threatened with my life and that of my family if I ever said anything, I kept it a secret for close to 25 years. Resulting in a life of drugs, violence and sex with men and women. I did what I did to feel alive, to get my power back. It was my "F*ck you" to the world. All the while trying to have a loving relationship and live a normal life. Hitting rock bottom, almost killing myself and another person, is exactly what I needed to get the help I needed and turn my life around.
I attended therapy and group therapy. Also attending Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Sex Anonymous helped turn my life around. I regret a lot of what I did but I wouldn’t change a thing because it’s made me who I am today and where I am in my life. Now, I work with sexual abuse organizations and speak at conferences and public speaking engagements as a sexual abuse ambassador and advocate. It happened to me for a reason, and that is to educate the world on sexual abuse, and help survivors of sexual abuse.
Read more about Nathan's story here.
