Its Safe to Talk

Hello poppets,

How are we doing?!

Today I want to talk about a really important topic and share with you an equally important organisation.

You know, despite building a career around sharing my story, there was a point in my life where sharing my story wasn’t quite so easy and for many years I kept silent about the things that happened to me as a child.

I was sexually abused from the age of 12 by a close family friend. I was told by them to keep quiet and by other members of my family. For many years I carried around the guilt and shame of a crime that just wasn’t mine to carry. I was made to believe that what happened to me was nothing but a fault of my own and with that kept silent believing that if I spoke out I would only be told the same.

The first time I spoke about my sexual abuse was actually with my last therapist. Something about her made me feel that it was the right time to share that part of my story and I knew I was in safe hands. Its great if you have someone you can trust wether in your friendship circle or family to talk to about these things, but for me I felt more comfortable talking to her.

Its something I have heard a lot over the years and many seem to find it easier talking to a trained professional. For a start, a lot of us from abusive backgrounds don’t actually have someone else to talk to, but also it’s just a different type of advice. A non judgmental, no nonsense approach and it makes it easier knowing the advice given is guiding us in the best ways.

Though it may be incredibly scary to step forward in your truth talking to someone confidently that you don’t know personally can be a great first step.

Safe to talk have trained specialists available 24/7 with free, confidential and non-judgmental advice and I love that they provide their services through phone, text or online chat here in New Zealand.

They provide anything from:
– Contact with a trained specialist at any time, day or night, seven days a week
– Answers to questions about sexual harm
– Information about medical, emotional, and behavioural issues related to harmful experiences
– Explanations of what you might expect if you report to the Police
– Referrals to specialists in your area
– Information for family and friends wanting to help someone
– Information, and contact with a specialist, for people who are worried about their own sexually harmful thoughts or behavior.

All contact is private and confidential between you and the specialist and you can choose to contact them online, by toll-free phone, text or email.

The weight and shame of sexual abuse is not yours to carry and you do not have to carry it alone.