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Relationships

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Supporting my vulnerable daughter after assault and sudden changes in behaviour

3 replies

Summer411 · 14/08/2026 17:22

My 18 year old daughter who has ADHD and Autism was exploited which sadly resulted in serious sexual and physical assault. She is very vulnerable which authorities have now also realised and support has been put in place.

Understandably her behaviour has been up and down since the assault but over the past few days she has been very withdrawn, angry and hostile towards us compared to how she has been. She is in her bed all day and awake all night and is very secretive over her phone and was saying she is dropping all charges and doesn’t want to speak to anyone else. She self harmed quite badly a few days ago. When I try and talk to her she just screams at me. I don’t know how to deal with the situation or how to support her through this. As one minute she is giving me cuddles and won’t let me go anywhere without her then the next minute she is saying she hates me and won’t even associate with us.

OP posts:
24Dogcuddler · 14/08/2026 17:35

I’m so sorry that this has happened to your DD and your family.

When you say that support has now been put in place, is this around her general needs or relating to the assault?

She will benefit from specialist mental health support from a professional with knowledge and experience of working with young people with autism and ADHD. Have you spoken to your GP or the local mental health team?

Try not to take anything and says or does personally. She will be struggling to process everything that has happened.

Summer411 · 14/08/2026 17:50

24Dogcuddler · 14/08/2026 17:35

I’m so sorry that this has happened to your DD and your family.

When you say that support has now been put in place, is this around her general needs or relating to the assault?

She will benefit from specialist mental health support from a professional with knowledge and experience of working with young people with autism and ADHD. Have you spoken to your GP or the local mental health team?

Try not to take anything and says or does personally. She will be struggling to process everything that has happened.

Thank you. She is getting support for the assault. The GP is aware of her mental health and they gave us helplines etc and I got her private counselling but she struggled to interact with them and refused to attend again 😞

OP posts:
ifonlytheydlisten · 14/08/2026 21:14

Find a different counsellor. Like tutors she needs one she gels with

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