Relationships. How do I trust again or let people in?
Relationships can be especially challenging for survivors of childhood abuse. As kids, we often had a great deal of trust in adults. Unfortunately, that trust is also used as a tactic by perpetrators to abuse, especially vulnerable children. It is no wonder many childhood abuse victims often struggle to have healthy and supportive relationships, push people away and often try and handle things on their own.
It is important to protect yourself from untrustworthy people. It is equally important to learn to open up and trust the good people too. Remember, It was not trusting someone that led to your abuse but the misuse of that trust.
How do I trust again or let people in?
Simply accepting and understanding why we push people away or avoid trusting is half the battle. Being mindful when we do it and taking steps to make changes. Learn to be vulnerable again to people you can trust.
It can be a difficult process to learn to trust again and it might take little extra professional help to do it.
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You might also like these other resources:
LOUD FENCE EVENT Easter Saturday 2025
Let's address some of the myths and facts about surviving child abuse as a male adult. We'll address issues such as: "If I’m a victim then I’ll be an abuser"; "What if I am gay because I was sexually abused"; "All abusers are male"; "I got aroused, I must have liked it"; "My offender must have been gay".
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD is a mental health condition that is triggered by a traumatic event. Signs and symptoms can follow immediately following the traumatic event or can lay dormant for years after.
Just because you experienced a traumatic event doesn’t mean you will have PTSD. Only 12% of Australians will experience PTSD. There are many factors that influence whether a person will go on to have PTSD following a traumatic event. However, sexually abused men in childhood are 10 times more likely to qualify for a diagnosis of PTSD in comparison to the general community.
Only a psychologist or psychiatrist can diagnose PTSD.
