DEAR ABBY: I was sexually assaulted at work about 20 years ago. I went through an off-and-on cycle with that supervisor for almost a year. He used many different tactics: isolating me, befriending me, apologizing insincerely, stating that he was a pillar of the community and no one would believe it, and even telling me I hadn’t meant it when I said no. At the same time, my then-husband started drinking and also became abusive toward me.
I left the job a year later after another incident occurred and the company swept it under the rug. Here I am, more than 20 years later, still dealing with the aftermath of that time period. I moved to another state for 18 years and thought it was all behind me. I moved back to my hometown last year, and I fell apart all over again. The triggers were intense at times. As a result, my current husband and I are moving to another state.
I hate that my life and my kids’ lives were destroyed, and once again, I am leaving. I can’t fix anything or change the truth, and I have to live with the fallout every day! I had a good family before it all happened. I stood up to my boss for a long time until I got to the point where I just didn’t care anymore. No one should ever have to go through something like that. I am going to get a special form of PTSD therapy after I move, but I will never be the same. If you have any ideas, please let me know. — DAMAGED IN THE EAST
Support authors and subscribe to content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
