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Confronting my abuser...

oneofthem

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About 3 1/2 years ago, i had a drink after work with my sister, my cousin and two of my sister's friends. I ended up kicking on and having a few more drinks. My sister had to go home, but told two of her friends (a guy and girl) to look after me.

Later on in the night, the girl was pressuring me to "get with" the guy's friend who we had met up with. I made it clear i wasn't interested, that i was just having a drink and a good time just being out. Later, i saw her chatting with my sister's guy friend in the corner. She went to the bathroom, came back, called me over. She also wanted me to drink this drink. There is so much that i saw, i so reckon it was God that was pointing this out to me. I don't know why i didn't catch on, but i guess you don't even think of these things if you're with people you trust. I know for a fact my sister's guy friend was a party drug dealer.

Anyway, so the conversation went something like this:

Her: "Hey, this drink is yours"
Me: "No, it's not."
Her: "Yes it is, i know it is."
Me: "No, it's not. When i drink, i always stick to the same drink. I don't like mixing drinks. I'm drinking vodka tonight, that's rum."
Her: "Well just have a sip to see what it's like"
Me: "I don't want to sip a drink that's not mine. It could be anyone's"
Her: "It's my drink"
Me: "Well i still don't want a sip, i have my own drink"
Her: "Have a sip anyway, see if you like it"
Me: "okay"

So i had a sip, and another one when she insisted again.

Shortly after that, i became very out of character. I hooked up with the guy's friend that i really was not interested in. My memory became very vague, there are whole chunks of my memory missing from that night. I know what i am like when i am drunk, and that was not me. I did things that were very out of character. I remember leaving the club and ending up back at her place with the rest of them. I don't know what happened. I know something happened, i don't know what we did.

I talked to my psychotherapist at my next session, and she was very sure that my drink had been spiked with GBH (stands for grievous bodily harm), the new date rape drug. When i went over the events of the night in my head, and remember what i had seen up until that point, it strongly suggested to me that both my sister's friends were responsible for this.

I asked my sister if she thought her friend would do something like this. She said "i don't know, why don't you ring her and find out?" So i did. She said "no, i wouldn't do that". Her lack of concern or surprise for the fact my drink had been spiked made me more suspicious. When i told my mum, she went into flat out denial. She kept telling me "what does Dr Sophia say?". She always said this when she didn't like what i was saying, thinking that her opinion would line up with hers and override anything i said. So i told her what Dr Sophia said. Then she said "how can you think she would do something like that? How do you think your sister would feel if you thought that of her friend?"

I felt victimised, so so so angry and hurt and invalidated and unprotected, knowing that if it came to the crunch, my mum would not believe me and would even victimise me.

Around that time also, and even for awhile after i stopped discussing it with my mum, she would say "<sister's friend> is a good girl" whenever she was mentioned or vaguelly came into the subject of discussion. It cut into my heart like a knife to hear my own mother say that.

I have since done a few layers of forgiveness. I had to forgive my mum and my sister, they were both really horrible around that time. I had to forgive my sister's friends. I had to give up my wanting validation about this from them.

For some reason, i think it's God, i feel led to write this girl a letter. Very occassionally, i see them around because my sister is still friends with them. She was maid of honour at my sisters wedding, and i was one of the other maids. She was there when both my nieces were born. She is going to pop into my life every now and then, this is inevitable. And recently, she told my sister that she wanted to send me a wedding gift. That was a bit of a clincher for me. I cannot accept a gift from her. It took me a long time just to be in the same room as her let alone have a polite conversation, which i can handle now. But if i am to accept a gift or any hospitality, i feel i need to tell her how her choice affected me that night.

So i want to get some prayer, write a letter, have it combed through by mature Christians who know the journey i am on.

As it stands, alot of anger is stirring up in me again. Anger at my sister and my mum for their lack of support. I am doing my best to keep this at bay.

Has anyone here confronted their abuser/perpetrator/drink spiker accomplice? Whether or not you have, i would like to hear anything you want to say. Any wisdom, edification...i need to draw strength right now. Btw, i don't drink at all anymore. I used to struggle with lifestyle issues, i addressed those with Jesus and good people around me.

oneofthem
 

heidi140

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I'm sorry for such a terrible experience that you went through. It must have been very difficult, and still is, especially since there are parts missing. And what a struggle to feel as if your mom and sister weren't supportive....that must have hurt very bad. Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of people want to ignore the negative and pretend that things couldn't possibly be so bad. I think in some ways it's their defense mechanism so that they don't have to deal with the painful issues. And other times it can just be selfishness and not wanting to "rock the boat." The sad part is that no matter their reasons, it just causes more pain as they invalidate the true feelings. Absolutely your family should have supported you......and it says a lot for your progress that you've worked on the forgiveness.

I think it sounds like a good idea to write a letter to that friend of your sister. Whether or not you give it to her is up to you. But you can't lose out by writing it. At least it will help get some more of your feelings out. Then once you finish it, you can decide whether to take the next step of giving it to her.
 
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Criada

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Writing can be a good way to explore and understand what you are feeling.
I did this recently... different journey, different circumstances, and the person I wrote to is no longer part of my life. I didn't send the letter....
A friend told me how she had dealt with such, and it helped me.

I wrote the letter... and then I took some red wine, representing the blood of Jesus, and poured it over the words, letting it wash them away.
For me, it was a very powerful and liberating experience, and I was able to really let go of all a lot that I had been holding on to, which Jesus had, really, dealt with at the cross.

As I say, very different circumstances, and I am unable to contact my abusers.
But God used this.

Praying for you, sweetie. :hug:
 
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NostalgicGranny

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Writing is good. My mom used to tell me it helps even if you never intend to send it.

It does sound like your drink was spiked. And you do NOT have to accept a gift from one of the people responsible.

It is possible to give Christian forgiveness without keeping those people in your life. Tell your sister you can't pretend it didn't happen and you won't accept a gift from her friend.
 
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oneofthem

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Dear A,

I felt a bit put on the spot at E's party when you asked me for my contact details. You may have noticed i have been quite stand-off-ish with you over the last few years. I am writing to you about this because i valued our relationship for a long time and I want you to know where we stand.

A few years ago, i drank a drink, administered by you that was spiked with GBH. I was out with you, M, and a friend of his that you were pressuring me to "get with". I remember alot about that night...or at least, before i was under the influence of a party/date rape drug. And there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that you and M were responsible for this.
Did you think you were doing me a favour? Or M a favour? Or his mate a favour? Or all of us? Did you do it to feel useful or of some worth? Did you consider the implications of what you were doing? Did you think that it might kill me if i was on medication? (You should thank God that i was not at that time). How did i end up at your place? Did he have sex with me? If he did, it was not consentual, therefore making it rape. Why do you think they call GBH a date rape drug? If my drink wasn't spiked, i would have continued being jolly, got in a cab, and gone home to my own bed with no strange men. Why did you lie when i asked you about it on the phone?

This night remains a theme in the nightmares and flashbacks i experience to this day. I cry and wail and shake and feel nautious and shudder at my husband's touch. I hate what this does to him. Thank you A. Thanks for looking after me, just as N specifically told both of you to do before she got out of the taxi that night. Do you remember that?

The reason i bring this up...you have been a family friend for a long time. I knew you growing up. You are in my childhood memories, boxing day memories, i saw you at Rock Eisteddfod, you got with my cousin. I trusted you. I hate M and i am trying to overcome that for my own sake, but i still hope i never have to see him again. But as for you, i hope we can rebuild this bridge one day, and get to a point where we can have decent conversations, where i can accept your hospitality (please don't offer me a drink for a long time) and where i could accept a gift from you. If that healing is possible, it could not be done unless you heard me out first. So thanks for hearing me out, which you did, because you're up to this bit of the letter.

One more thing...i was victimised rather than supported by my family over this. Therefore, i would really really appreciate it if you did not bring this up with N or mum in any way because world war 3 can and will break loose. If you do bring it up with them, i will guarantee you 110% that she will tell mum, and either or both of them will bring it up with me sooner or later in a very hurtful way. So please please keep this between us, or at least, away from my family.

Thanks for reading this A. Please know that i valued our friendship and our trust. That is why i am writing to you and not M. I hope a degree of trust can be restored in time.

Regards

********
 
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AxionEsti

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I am sorry to say that friends can rarely be trusted, especially in bars and party situations. Where I used to work we saw this happen multiple times, and had to help the victim deal with it. One girl, this happened three times - like she just couldn't learn from it. I say you must learn from it, please. :hug:
 
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