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Heretolisten.org is a resource for caring adults—the front-line staff in schools and community based programs—to help teens who are struggling with difficult emotions.
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Abuse (53 found)
All stories originally appeared in Youth Communication magazines: YCteen, which is written by New York City public high school students, and Represent which is written by and for youth in foster care.
After her mother's death, the writer is left with her father, an alcoholic who neglects her. She acts out and engages in dangerous behavior. With a helpful therapist, she turns her life around. (full text)
Marreka gets the message young that her body is for adults to use. Molested at age 5, and trafficked as a young teen, she finally finds love and support at Gateways and GEMS. (full text)
The author is shocked to learn that his father has molested his sister -- and that their mother takes the father's side. The author has trouble mourning because of his father's contempt for emotion. (full text)
The author is molested by her mom's boyfriend, and her mom disbelieves and yells at her. She tries to tell a friend, who brushes it aside. Finally, she tells another friend, who is supportive and kind. (full text)
Two therapists who specialize in trauma talk about why youth might minimize what they've been through and how misogyny and racism lead adults to underestimate and even blame youth for abuse they experience. (full text)
Psychotherapist Russell Saunders explains how to heal from a parent's abuse or neglect, how to make boundaries with those parents, and what needs to happen before you can forgive them (full text)
The author is sexually trafficked by her parents from ages 12 to 16. After she escapes, she focuses on healing and saving her little sister from the same fate. (full text)
Writing and working with an editor helped Zaniyah understand her own anger, forgive herself, and take control of her life. (full text)
The author was sexually abused by her adopted father for several years. After she goes into care, she decides to testify about it, and sends a predator to prison. (full text)
“Not living with either of my parents made me feel like a puzzle piece that didn’t fit in anywhere,” writes Joel. Therapy makes him feel less out of place and abandoned. (full text)
Elvia's mom dies when she's a senior in high school. In despair, she shuts down, but heals with the help of therapy, writing, and caring friends and mentors. (full text)
E.F. looks back on her mother's abuse and her own fighting at school. She is placed with her grandmother at age 11, goes to therapy, and learns to handle her own feelings. (full text)
Robert's parents neglect and abuse him, and he's sent to a group home. Feeling unheard, he acts out until he receives love and attention from mentors, a therapist, and his grandmother. (full text)
The author, frustrated by abuse and unfairness, fights. After hitting a pregnant girl, she realizes she must stop and does, with the help of yoga, running, and therapy. (full text)
The writer is treated badly and inconsistently by her mother and grandmother. She cuts herself to relieve her pain, but moves toward stopping with the help of music, reading, and writing. (full text)
At age 15, Alesha is seduced and then abused by a predator in his 30s. She details how he manipulated her, then how she got free and repaired her damaged self-worth. (full text)
The writer is prostituted by her parents, runs away, and then goes into care. Her father begs for forgiveness, and she decides that forgiving him will bring her some peace. (full text)
The writer's childhood was a blur of drug dealing, abuse, death, and chaos. He mourns never getting to "do kid things" and ponders how he'll ever be able to trust. (full text)
The author's mother subjects the author and her twin sister to extreme abuse, which is worse when she drinks. The author gets herself to college after they go into care, but her sister slides into addiction. (full text)
Chris suffers abuse at home, including his adoptive mom not accepting his gender identity. He nearly gives up on school, but in a small school for kids with emotional challenges, he thrives. (full text)
Desmin explains how a tough, crime-ridden high school and chaotic home life put him on the path to dropping out. (full text)
Selena's early life is full of abuse and cruelty. She is adopted by a loving family at age 16 and learns about consistency, connection, and working through problems. (full text)
K.O.'s mother works nights and leaves the writer to take care of her younger siblings at age 11. This leads them into foster care. (full text)
After being sexually abused throughout her life by numerous men in her family, the writer meets other young women and learns that her experience is common in her South Asian culture. (full text)
The author is forced by her mother and stepfather to be the maid and nanny to her younger half-siblings. In kinship care, she's allowed to be a child again. (full text)
The author was physically and emotionally abused. When she ages out of care, she finds that years of being put down keep her from going after work or college. (full text)
The author keeps giving her violent, abusive mom another chance, and her mom keeps letting her down. She finally resolves to separate and move forward on her own. (full text)
Selena suffers terrible abuse from an early age, then is moved to 16 different foster homes in two years. Then she finds a foster mother who sticks with her and eventually adopts her. (full text)
This writer’s first sexual encounter with a boy is nothing like the romantic experience she envisioned. When he doesn't listen to her refusal, she kicks him out. (full text)
The author gains weight and is bullied. She briefly tries throwing up her food, until she has a health scare and takes off the weight slowly with exercise and healthy diet. (full text)
The author is raised by a volatile and abusive mother. When she finds herself acting like her mother and screaming at her boyfriend, she is appalled. She gets therapy. (full text)
Five years after her brother tried to rape her, this writer gradually stopped being afraid to tell anyone. (full text)
The writer is being abused at home, but doesn't share that secret with anyone. She bonds with a teacher at school, who offers support and love when the writer needs it most. (full text)
Kicked out of the house by her mother, the writer goes to live with her father. Although life's not perfect, she realizes she shouldn't blame herself for a situation over which she had no control. (full text)
After having suicidal thoughts and cutting herself, V.N. is committed to a psychiatric hospital, but she doesn't think she's crazy. Harming herself seems to help her escape the trauma of sexual abuse. (full text)
Young adults who weren't taught as children how to handle difficult emotions are more likely to develop mental health issues as adults. (full text)
Therapy and trusting relationships with people can help teens manage stress and difficult emotions, and recover from childhood trauma. (full text)
For years, V.N. is sexually and physically abused by her father. She goes into foster care, grapples with cutting and suicide attempts, and finds some relief from talk therapy and antidepressants. (full text)
As a child, Natasha escaped into an imaginary world to deal with pain. Now she wonders if the habit has outworn its usefulness. (full text)
Aquellah works hard in therapy to release her inner child—the feelings and longings she was never allowed to express. (full text)
Natasha interviews a therapist to explain how therapy works and why it’s important for kids who’ve suffered trauma. (full text)
Because of an abusive past, the writer dissociates from reality and cuts herself. Yet she has the tiniest bit of hope that all is not lost. (full text)
Diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, Erica learns to manage her emotions through therapy and medication. (full text)
To deal with her abusive past, Christine mentally dissociates and begins to cut herself. Letting out her feelings helps her stay present.
(full text) A therapist explains why people cut themselves and how they may be able to stop. (full text)
Growing up in a violent, dysfunctional household, Linda becomes depressed and suicidal. Therapy helps her express her feelings. (full text)
With the help of staff, Tray finds less destructive ways to deal with his emotions. (full text)
After being arrested for assault, Fred is sent to a residential treatment center, where he eventually learns ways to deal with his anger and his violent past. (full text)
Miguel describes the programs that have tried to help him manage his emotions, and explains what works and what doesn’t. (full text)
Julie finds that opening up about her feelings helps her to deal with them in more constructive ways. (full text)
I had to take care of my whole family as a teen, until CPS finally stepped up. (full text)
Many men hurt me, but teachers, therapists, and my own courage have helped me heal and thrive. (full text)
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