#351 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,6,7,8

As a young boy, I only ever wanted to do what’s right, be honest, and grow in the church. Around the age of 12, I had my first experience with pornography. I was naive and innocent, and was curious about some webpage my friends had found. I felt miserable, knowing that what I had seen…

#350 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7

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…

#347 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,7,8. Other: Thoughts of self-castration

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…

#343 Lauren C. CS: 1,2,3,6,8 Other: self harm

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…

#342 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,7. Other: Reported abuse disregarded.

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,…

#339 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8,9

I wish I was brave enough to post my name, but my family is still unaware of my faith transition. I feel like a coward. My heart is beating rapidly in nervousness as I type this out. But I need to do it. I grew up in an extremely dysfunctional family. My dad was a…

#338 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,7,8

I was born in the church and presented as a very devout, chaste and faithful girl my whole life. It wasn’t an act. For the most part, I really was. But I had a secret : I masturbated. I was never asked about this, and masturbation was never addressed in YW. I came away with…