I’ve been assaulted by strangers on more than one occasion while I was on my own and as a survivor of CSA it’s brought me lots of trauma and makes going out alone a frightening experience. I can’t go out unless I’m meeting up with a friend, my SO or a family member nearby. I also get anxiety when going to new places (such as doctor’s offices and whatnot) and always ask my older sister to go with me since we are close. 

It feels embarrassing since I’m almost 20 and struggle to go out alone and if I try I’ll get really bad panic attacks and flashbacks to the things that have happened to me. I’ll be getting therapy soon, but until now it’s brought me a lot of grief that I always have to be around someone I trust in public places.