I was a popular young woman, honor student and athlete in my high school with supportive and loving parents. In the summer before I turned 16, I attended a fireside about chastity in which masturbation was the focus. Since approximately the age of 14 I had engaged in some mild masturbation, completely normal and moderate…
My story isn’t exactly my story, although I am definitely a part of it. I am an ’empty nester’ now, but eleven years ago I was a single mom and still had a twelve year old son at home with me; a smart, sweet boy who tickled me with his ‘man of the house’ attitude…
As a youth, I went to my bishop to confess what I was taught to be “inappropriate” behavior with my girlfriend. When I told my bishop I had done some things with my girlfriend, this was his line of questioning: Did you have sex? No Was it with your hands? Yes Above or below the…
I was not abused during or because of these interviews, but the affects of these interviews haunt me to this day. Ever since my first experience with masturbation, these interviews caused me to hate myself. I was told how weak and sinful I was because of masturbation. I was yelled at and punish by my…
As a teenager, I had a healthy interest in sexuality and had sexual feelings. I masturbated, which I now recognize was normal behavior for a teenager, but I also was so guilt ridden about it, it actually made me sick. I tried so hard to stop, but my hormones were just too strong. For weeks,…
My story isn’t earth shattering but it was embarrassing and so very awkward. It was in the early 90’s as I was interviewing to turn my papers in to go on a mission. I am a female and I was 20 years old at the time. My bishop was older, probably in his 70’s. I…
In my teen years, my bishop interviewed me regarding masturbation and watching pornography. He would ask very detailed questions regarding how frequently I masturbated, how I felt, whether the pornography was “soft-core” or “hard-core”. He would tell me that what I was doing was a sin against god, equal to adultery, and that part of…
You always heard about the boys that masturbate, and that always seemed more acceptable. Like it was something expected because men weren’t strong enough to control their urges. You never heard about the girls. And I figured out that it was something I enjoyed doing, and I did it. I knew it was wrong, but…
It’s hard to know where to begin, but I’ll try to be succinct. I’m a survivor of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of my oldest brother (11 years older than I), which lasted from before I can remember until I was around 7, when he left home. I learned only as a teenager myself,…
After reading the stories that are on here the problems in my life now make sense. The constant feeling of shame that has been with me all my life for no reason . The feeling of shame and illicitness that has always been with me has been a wall between me and my husband of…