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Relationships

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need response..

7 replies

aimeelou26 · 07/06/2026 13:49

Now this is completely off topic to anything parenting, but here I go.

when I was 16-19, I was very promiscuous. Like very very promiscuous, I don’t know why, I think now being the age of 29 I feel like I deffo was having some sort of manic episodes as it all started at the age of 16, I lost my friendship group after I left school, I fell into a bit of depression I used to spend a lot of time alone just smoking weed. I used to meet different boys from social media, my intention was never to have sexual relations with them but when you’re 16/17, you don’t really see the clearer picture. Well i definitely didn’t. The more it happened the more i got used to it. I just want to add majority of them well older guys, 21+ some even late 20s the age I am now possibly a little bit older. Moving forward, I was approached by a guy who was 25 at the time when I was 17 in the street, we started talking I started sexual relations with him in the next week or so but I used to see him maybe once a week. One night he turned on and he wasn’t nice anymore, he declared he lost thousands gambling he took it out on me and demanded I had to help him make it back. I remember we was in a hotel and he threw one of the mugs at me and it hit me and I was quite scared. After that, he basically exploited me, I think it was around 10 different guys I gave oral sex to for money and him and his friend just kept the money for themselves. I again have no idea why I didn’t just walk away, as I really didn’t want to do it but I felt like I had to? Anyway, moving forward I remember one day I was with him and I didn’t want to do anything sexual with him and he raped and basically forced me to even though I kept telling him no and after that my mental health declined even more because got even more promiscuous, I felt like anyone who I was with who wanted to have sex felt like I couldn’t say no. I finally one day just decided to never meet him again and I get so angry at myself now because it was so easy never seeing him again, it’s like I was scared for nothing. Moving forward just a few months before my 18th. I met another boy who promised me he can help me make money, again stupid I know I went to meet him and turns out it was just a drugs house where he was selling from and he got me there just to help out without getting paid and again everytime he and even one of his friends asked I felt very pressured to give them oral sex. I don’t know what was wrong with me. You get the point now I wasn’t right in the head and even now the thought is sickening to me. Eventually after a while I stopped seeing them, and through 2015 nothing ever really crazy happened to me I was semi normal, I was just going out partying etc still a little promiscuous but I got a normal job etc and I was fine even went back to college that September and met a good bunch of girls and became normal the rest of the year I was again a little promiscuous but not a lot. 2016, I was again a little promiscuous not a lot.

but by June 2016, I met someone who I spent the last 9 years with I never went with anyone else. I think the whole point of why I’m writing this is, I feel so shameful now about what happened to me or even what I did. I don’t if I did the rest of it out of trauma I have no idea. Lately that’s all I can think of as it’s so far from the person I am now. As a 29yo now I actually look at 17/18 like children I cannot believe all those things happened.

anyway moving forward, the person who I was with for 9 years, we had a child he’s now 7, honestly since the age of 19 I haven’t done anything even like that ever. I just feel some ashamed and sick to my stomach thinking f it all I actually feel traumatised. Moving on, last year the father of my child actually passed away, we wasn’t together for a little bit before his passing, however since then I have met someone else and completely fell in love with him. But I somewhat can’t help but feel like I’m lying about the person who I am? If that makes sense. Even though all those things happened when I was still basically a child? I don’t know.

am I thinking too deep and hard into the situation? Should I just let it go??

this all started back in 2013/2014 btw, so it’s been like 12/13 years.

OP posts:
PetulaGordeno · 07/06/2026 14:17

I am so, so very sorry you lost your last partner.
Despite such a difficult period in your life when you were raped and abused, you managed to forge a new life with your last partner and you are now a mum.
You have SO much to be proud of.
I don’t call a girl of 16 sleeping with men almost twice her age promiscuous at all. I see a young girl desperate love and affirmation, and older men abusing her.
You probably have PTSD and counselling would help.
As for any new man, I’m not saying you have to keep anything a secret, but after losing your former partner you are vulnerable right now.
This new guy could be wonderful and accepting. Or he could be great for a time but then use this information against you.
You must come first in all of this. You are in a different position than you were. And you weren’t having casual sex with boys your own age you were often being raped and abused by grown men.
I am not saying don’t fall in love. But due to previous experiences and grief you are probably longing for connection again.
I would ease off a bit with this man. Enjoy his company and let him earn your trust over time. Don’t jump in with your past right now - you have no shame, though. The shame belongs to your abusers.
The best outcome would be working through these issues in therapy which would help with healing and prepare you for conversations should you wish to discuss your past.
I think you sound like a remarkable young woman. Feel no shame around what happened. And be very proud of how far you have come.

Pinkissmart · 07/06/2026 14:44

OP, please be kind to yourself.
What was your childhood like? Were you loved and supported ?
People take all kinds of circuitous paths to finding themselves. It’s ok to have been a bit of a confused kid who didn’t have it all together. It’s ok💐

aimeelou26 · 07/06/2026 16:02

PetulaGordeno · 07/06/2026 14:17

I am so, so very sorry you lost your last partner.
Despite such a difficult period in your life when you were raped and abused, you managed to forge a new life with your last partner and you are now a mum.
You have SO much to be proud of.
I don’t call a girl of 16 sleeping with men almost twice her age promiscuous at all. I see a young girl desperate love and affirmation, and older men abusing her.
You probably have PTSD and counselling would help.
As for any new man, I’m not saying you have to keep anything a secret, but after losing your former partner you are vulnerable right now.
This new guy could be wonderful and accepting. Or he could be great for a time but then use this information against you.
You must come first in all of this. You are in a different position than you were. And you weren’t having casual sex with boys your own age you were often being raped and abused by grown men.
I am not saying don’t fall in love. But due to previous experiences and grief you are probably longing for connection again.
I would ease off a bit with this man. Enjoy his company and let him earn your trust over time. Don’t jump in with your past right now - you have no shame, though. The shame belongs to your abusers.
The best outcome would be working through these issues in therapy which would help with healing and prepare you for conversations should you wish to discuss your past.
I think you sound like a remarkable young woman. Feel no shame around what happened. And be very proud of how far you have come.

Thank you for your response it’s made feel a little better. Yes I am trying to sort therapy out. But thanks again. Hearing you say the word young girl puts everything into perspective.

OP posts:
aimeelou26 · 07/06/2026 16:04

Pinkissmart · 07/06/2026 14:44

OP, please be kind to yourself.
What was your childhood like? Were you loved and supported ?
People take all kinds of circuitous paths to finding themselves. It’s ok to have been a bit of a confused kid who didn’t have it all together. It’s ok💐

Yes, I had a decent childhood, my dad wasn’t around but I would a lot of trouble started when I was a teenager in I didn’t have to beat relationship with her through those years, all is fine now though. She used to kick me out a lot when I was around 17/18. But thanks your kind response.

OP posts:
PetulaGordeno · 07/06/2026 16:09

aimeelou26 · 07/06/2026 16:02

Thank you for your response it’s made feel a little better. Yes I am trying to sort therapy out. But thanks again. Hearing you say the word young girl puts everything into perspective.

I used to work with young girls at that age and it’s a tough age if you have a lot of stability. Your story and what happened is far more common than you think.
Always remember what Gisele Pelicot says - shame must change sides.
I was given genital herpes by my very first boyfriend at that age. He even convinced me I had given it to him. Used to blackmail and tell me he would tell everyone about it.
I held that shame for four decades. Different times then, no support or proper information just what felt like a lifetime of punishment.
Now? It’s such a common health issue. All those years I felt such deep shame.
Now my health and my past are my own business. I have had a few experiences when I have disclosed it and I’ve been judged.
But as you get older you realise we all have a past, and life is to be lived.
At 30 or so you are in the prime of your life. Absolutely get some help to work through your past but also learn to enjoy the now.
You have earned it and you deserve it.

WaryHiker · 07/06/2026 16:10

What a lovely first response to your post. I second everything that poster said. Please make sure you get the help you both need and deserve before getting too deep into this new relationship. It might be fine, it might be not. A therapist will really help you work through some of these issues.

aimeelou26 · 07/06/2026 16:44

PetulaGordeno · 07/06/2026 16:09

I used to work with young girls at that age and it’s a tough age if you have a lot of stability. Your story and what happened is far more common than you think.
Always remember what Gisele Pelicot says - shame must change sides.
I was given genital herpes by my very first boyfriend at that age. He even convinced me I had given it to him. Used to blackmail and tell me he would tell everyone about it.
I held that shame for four decades. Different times then, no support or proper information just what felt like a lifetime of punishment.
Now? It’s such a common health issue. All those years I felt such deep shame.
Now my health and my past are my own business. I have had a few experiences when I have disclosed it and I’ve been judged.
But as you get older you realise we all have a past, and life is to be lived.
At 30 or so you are in the prime of your life. Absolutely get some help to work through your past but also learn to enjoy the now.
You have earned it and you deserve it.

Edited

Honestly thank you so much. Made me feel more human today.

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