Your father, brothers & sisters

Home: Survivors: For Teenagers: Stepping out

Your father

Your father or someone like your father may have abused you. If it was not him, he could react in much the same way as your mum, and so you might feel the same way about him. He could pretend it is not happening, because he doesn't want to know about it, or he might get very sad or angry, and want to protect you. Fathers can get advice at community centres and hospitals too.

Your sisters and brothers

Maybe one of them or more than one of them has been sexual with you and you don't feel OK about that. If this has not happened, they could:

• be your friends and try to help you;
• be jealous of you, even if they don't know, because they can see you are getting special attention or presents, like money;
• be victims of incest, like you, now, or in the future. You may not know about it, because you don't talk to each other very much.

It often happens to more than one person in the family.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HELPED AND PROTECTED, YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CARRY THE SECRET OF INCEST ON YOUR OWN.

You are not alone

One in three girls and one in nine boys go through incest. So there will be other people at your school, or amongst your work mates and friends who had the same thing happen to them.

There are also many people who want to help you.

Sponsor

Dympna House

Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 24 Sep 2009