Alcoholic Parents

In grade three a friend told me, "I can't sleep over because my parents say your mom and dad are drunks." That was the moment it hit me: my family isn't normal.

Bullying

I learned the language of silence. Keep your head down. Don’t say a word. Try to be invisible. Maybe if they forget you’re here it will stop. It didn’t stop.

Discrimination

Life is hard in general, but for those of us who are perceived as different, it can be especially hard.

Divorced Parents

I became a very quiet child, no longer the happy kid I used to be. I wanted answers. “Why did my mom leave me?” was all I could think about.

Domestic Violence

He used to lock me outside our house with no shoes or coat, rage at me for an hour or more, and make me doubt my sanity. When he hit me, it was the last straw.

Prostitution

At first it was a game to us, a kind of joke. We made a lot of money, got drunk, did drugs. We thought it was fun. But it all escalated really quickly.

Rape

After swimming in a motel pool, a man followed up alongside me. "Just wanna walk you to your room, make sure everything's all safe for you." When it was over, he ran a bath for me. I was still in that cold water when they found me in the morning.

Coping with Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse (definition): forcing you to do or see something of a sexual nature against your will.

What is Physical Abuse?

It’s real. It hurts. It does untold damage.

What Is Verbal and Emotional Abuse?

Verbal abuse may seem invisible. But the effects can be extremely damaging.

What Is Neglect and Abandonment?

Neglect and abandonment are huge issues, and can potentially lead to addictions.

Have You Been Abused? There’s Hope

It's not your fault you've been abused. But you can do something about how you feel.

My Husband Orders Me Around