CSA: My Road To Closure

When I first thought about getting some sort of 'closure' from what has happened to me I didn't know what or how I wanted to go about it. Here are some of the things I have done and am wanting to do.

My first step was to try and gain some kind of closure was to try and prosecute my abuser, this was unsuccessful due to my abuser committing suicide a week after being questioned by the police.

After discussing with several people including my counsellor and Katie-Jo I decided that I would like to revisit the places in which the abuse took place. I know some people may argue that this will cause me to bring back unnecessary pain and bad memories. But I would like to revisit those places to put the bad memories to rest and also to be able to create some good memories in their place.

I want to raise awareness about sexual abuse, there are several ways in which I want to do this firstly I have been and I am in the process of writing a memoir about my experience which I hope to publish in some way. I would also like to do some fundraising in the future for charities which help victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

Over time I hope to forgive my abuser for what he did. I don't know how or when I will be able to do this. In some ways I feel as though I already am beginning to do this however at other times I feel as though it is something I will never be able to do. This is something that I feel only time can help me with.

- Stacey xo