What Started as a Game Turned Into My Worst Nightmare

Amber Nicole Hayes' story of surviving abuse and trauma is one of resilience and hope. She speaks candidly about the challenges of healing, navigating family complexities, and finding the strength to move forward. If you're seeking inspiration or on your own healing journey, Amber's story will resonate.

#overcomingabuse #mentalhealth #healingjourney

Thank you for watching Unfiltered Stories! We offer a platform for our guests to speak openly about their life stories and journeys, shedding light on the challenges they faced and the resilience they've shown.
Our mission is to raise awareness about survivors by delving into their stories, exploring the impact of their experiences, and how they've managed to heal and rebuild their lives.
By sharing these stories, we aim to break the silence surrounding those challenging memories and create a compassionate environment.

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[shelleystinton]

I had similar experiences with my Uncle and my brother. I wasn’t raped because I fought like a cat and I would run away. I told my mom and my aunts but they ended up blaming me I was only 7! So I learned to get loud and fight back.

[Daniel-xz]

We buried my older brother last year.. only my mom cried at his funeral.. His sickness was gone and my sister and i just felt free..

[ChantalS-iw]

It's horrible knowing that abuse is SO common in many people's childhoods. Even more horrific when a parent sides with the abuser or won't acknowledge it at all. You deserved a better mother. I'm very sorry this happened to you. People who didn't have abusive childhoods are rare.

[KnottyByNature-ReNu]

My brother 10 years my senior groomed me to. My parents caught him my dad “disciplined” him. But I was still left alone with him… I was expected to have a relationship with him. My parents knew what he was doing. He eventually moved out married a woman with two children. I was expected to act like nothing had happened and see him regularly until I finally found a way to move out at 17. I’ve been trying to find my confidence for 41 years. I’m slowly finding it though. I’m finding the strength to stand in the truth and no longer feel silenced.

[anneamus]

For the sake of everyone, mental health care must be universal for everyone at every age.

[kaysmith]

I was raped as a teen and it left me very traumatized and afraid of boys and men, all of them except my father. I was always looking around to make sure I was safe and watching everyone around me just in case. The trauma never really leaves, just becomes bearable. One day, I told a friend about it and she said “oh, just forget about it”. If I could just forget about, I would have done so many years prior. People who have never been traumatized have no idea how it clings to us and runs so deep.

[amina]

this story is my life, i share this experience almost to the T. i was molested by my father’s nephew, my first cousin, who lived with my family at the time. From the ages of 8-11 years old, my 25-29 year old cousin abused me on a constant basis and when i was 12, he r*ped me. after that last encounter the abuse had stopped. i had no idea that what he was doing to me was wrong until i took health class when i was 16 and the teacher explained to us the concept of sexual assault, my whole world changed at that moment, all i felt was so much shame and disgust. i told my parents about the molestation not too long after that but i couldn’t bring myself to talk about the r*pe. my father and mother acted like nothing happened the very next day and continued to allow him to visit for years after. a month before i turned 17, i was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and i realized i couldn’t live being treated like that. every time he visited i would have a panic attack. because of our culture, i believed what happened was my fault. and i shouldn’t be ashamed because of a sick f*ck, i eventually told my parents about the r*pe and wouldn’t allow them to forget it. for years after that my trauma had cause me to lose trust in all men and live in fear of assault from people i thought i could trust but now at 22, i feel healed that i never have to see his face ever again. when i used to work for my father from when i was 19-21 years old, he would show up and my father told me he didn’t believe me because “his nephew would never do that” so now i don’t speak to my father and i’ve never been happier and so stress free. i have been on remission from multiple sclerosis for over a year now because i protected my peace and took the trash out. mirror like similarities between me and a complete stranger on the internet is a f*cked up comfort but now i know there’s someone who me on a deeper level and i thank you.

[BrynneBeeJammin]

My brother was my abuser. I completely understand everything. she’s talking about. Luckily, I started therapy at 20 so it doesn’t weigh on me as much. But my family (with two counselors for parents) didn’t handle it well. It took them years to understand why I completely cut him off. I loved seeing this story out in the universe! Sibling abuse isn’t talked about enough. And if it is, it’s “just experimentation”. I really could have used hearing this story when I was in the throes of my PTSD. Let’s all continue to get our stories out there. Abuse thrives on secrecy. Abuse cannot hide if we bring it into the light. Peace and Healing to all my fellow sibling abuse survivors.❤

[twilightingX]

I never got closure from my mum, for staying with my father after finding out he was abusing me. I did eventually get saved by a teacher.
She only ever said sorry when I asked her to, which meant it was never genuine. You have to find peace within yourself and support from your loved ones around you. Blood isn’t thicker than water.

[AllAJz]

This is why I am very careful and will not turn my back on curiosity of small children.
It changes the victim and sends the other on unhealthy past.

[doremi]

I am sorry about what you went through. For what is worth, as a Mother to a 44yr old daughter with grand children myself, I love you and your children. YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER. And you are beautiful and gentle and kind and brave. ❤

[dunscotus]

I am so grateful I never experienced sexual assault. But i went through the domestic violence from my mother. 100 lbs, panic, anxiety, bulemia. It became so bad I left and went to live with my father. He helped me heal. But even now, some of the damage is still with me. I hope you can have a happy and fulfilling life. I did get help and that was the beginning of my life.

[JoVa-yn]

What a brave and beautiful person. Never let the wrong doings of others define you!

[amandalovescandy]

I had a similar experience, and my mother said i was a liar and selfish and to never tell anyone else. I moved away right after graduating high school. About a year later, l found out through other family members that several other girls were targeted and molested after me. My mother stood behind the other girls and supported them 100%. I thought, "Finally, she knows." When i brought it up to her about it happening to me, she laughed in my face and said i was "still lying". Later in therapy, my counselor asked me, "What if she isn't sorry?" That blew my mind, and i realized it wasn't that she didn't believe me, it was that she truly wasn't sorry it had happened to me. Im 54 years old now, and my mother has alzheimers. I've had to make peace with what happened. I will never understand or have answers to the question that haunts me to this day. Why me? Why didn't i matter?

[Kingsfan]

I’m so sorry for those of you who experienced this type of harm

[pisces]

How cruel for for this wonderful soul to have to endure so much.
She was & is a courageous warrior.
She's breaking the toxic parent/child/family dynamics she had to endure.

[KrisBlack-idahogirl]

Our stories are very much alike. Im so sorry. We did nothing to deserve what we were forced to endure. My heart is with you!! We are

[julielewis]

God bless you Amber, you're a survivor of the worst betrayal and your strength got you through it

[DavidAngelguitar]

My heart ripped apart with tears in my eyes, upon hearing your story, I too am an adult survivor from a similar situation at the hands of two babysitters when I was 8 years old. God bless you for sharing your story you are a precious soul, God loves you immensely, Amber Nicole. You will help many with your powerful testimonial.

[fizzbathco.]

As a mom of four daughters, I would have certainly been more compassionate, more understanding, more sympathetic and far less dismissive. We don’t choose our parents but we can choose to have them in our lives. Continue your life with your children and protect them. Your story has been heard and we all feel your pain and anguish.
Your journey continues and you’re doing a great job❤❤❤❤❤