“My boundaries were not respected…”

I was 14 when I reached out for help. At the time, I did not understand what was happening to me. I was in constant contact with people older than me and it felt normal; I thought this was how things are. I was being sexually abused and taken advantage of by much older men. I often felt uncomfortable and pressured. I was being asked to do things and controlled in ways I did not fully understand. I did not understand the complexity of the situation or how unsafe it was and I did not have the support I needed to make sense of what was happening to me.  

So, I decided to speak to someone.  

How I got help

I was given a safe and nonjudgmental space to talk. I was able to share what had been happening to me and how it was affecting me. For the first time, someone explained what exploitation is and helped me understand that I was being taken advantage of. I continued to reach out for support over the following weeks. Talking regularly helped me feel more supported and less confused about my situation. I began to understand my rights as a child and that what I was experiencing was not okay.  Having someone listen and explain things clearly helped me make sense of my experience. I did not feel pressured or judged. I felt safer knowing I could talk and support was available to me.