• They had a damaging effect on my personal development.
• I became an insecure and fearful child.
• Consequences appeared in the form of noticeable behaviors such as: hatred toward men, aggressiveness, and a tendency toward violence
• Silence was the highest rule for me.
• Feelings of guilt, difficulty concentrating, and problems at school weighed heavily on me.
• Self-destructive thoughts, even suicidal ideation, emerged.
• It was a battle against myself, and I often hurt myself physically.
• Depression, loneliness, feelings of worthlessness, and an inability to trust others.

I was afraid:

• that I would be labeled as gay.
• of getting slapped because you’re not allowed to talk about such things.
• that no one would believe me anyway.
• to say no.

Out of shame and fear of prejudice, I kept the experience of sexual abuse secret until I was twenty-seven years old.