I Told My Teacher at 4 Years Old About My Abuse. Nothing Changed for Over a Decade

Content warning: This video contains themes of sexual abuse. If you think it may be triggering for you please take care when listening. The thoughts and opinions expressed by our contributors are not necessarily those held by Something to Say.

Yasemin was just four years old when the childhood sexual abuse began.

What started as grooming by someone she trusted continued for more than a decade, hidden in plain sight while those around her remained unaware.

In this powerful conversation, Yasemin shares how an early disclosure was misunderstood, allowing the abuse to continue until she was 17. She reflects on the devastating impact of being groomed by a family member, the courage it took to confront her abuser, and the long road through the criminal justice system that ultimately led to his conviction.

Yasemin also speaks openly about the lifelong effects of childhood sexual abuse, including trauma, hypervigilance, anxiety, and the challenges survivors often face long after the abuse has ended. Her story highlights the importance of believing children, recognising the signs of abuse, and ensuring that every disclosure is taken seriously.

Today, Yasemin uses her voice to help others feel less alone and to encourage more open conversations about childhood sexual abuse. She believes education, awareness, and breaking the silence are essential if we want to better protect children and support survivors.

At Something to Say, we believe every survivor's story has the power to educate, challenge misconceptions, and inspire change. By listening, learning, and sharing these conversations, we can help create a safer future for children.If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it. Every conversation helps raise awareness of childhood sexual abuse and encourages more people to recognise the signs, believe survivors, and protect children.Subscribe to Something to Say for more survivor stories, expert insights, and conversations dedicated to preventing childhood sexual abuse and supporting those affected. 💚

Yasemin is the founder of the platform @yasemincsaadvocate, focusing on mental health, CSA and world issues.

To contact Yasemin across social media platforms:

@yasemincsaadvocate

If this conversation resonated with you, please like, comment, and subscribe to help raise awareness and support more survivors speaking out. You van also join our YouTube or Patreon Memberships for extra content and early access:

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SomethingtoSay

YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/@SomethingtoSayofficial/membership

To follow us on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somethingtosayofficial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somethingtosayofficial1

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/something-to-say1

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@somethingtosayofficial

This podcast provides a platform for contributors to share their own lived experiences. Unless expressly stated otherwise, Something to Say has not independently verified the factual accuracy of statements made by contributors and does not endorse or adopt any allegations, assertions, opinions or conclusions expressed in this recording.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.