TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
I have had a very hard life. I don't like saying that because it feels to me like I am saying that it excuses my actions. When i turned nine I got diagnosed with Cancer and had to have several surgeries. Soon after that my parents got a divorce and about a week after that my dad started having sex with me. I didn't tell anyone that for a long time and when I did no one believed me because I had waited seven years to come out in the open about it. I don't have to see my dad... But my relationships with other people get really hard. I push people away before they can hurt me and tend to try to control people. I went to therapy and now that I am 'over' it I am very happy and always have a smile on my face. My friends don't believe me though. I always break down in the winter because thats when it started and I did it this last winter. They don't believe I'm better and that I won't cut or drink or smoke like I have been. They keep saying. 'Wait until winter.' It just sucks. I want them to be confident in me...

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hi,

Thank you for emailing TEEN LINE. It sounds like you've been through a lot. I can only imagine what all of that must be like; I bet it must be really hard. It sounds like it's hard on you when your friends don't believe in you. Have you tried to talk to them about this? Have you asked them why they think the way they do?

You also mentioned cutting, drinking, and smoking as ways of coping. Did your therapist help you with stopping? Are you in a program to stay sober? Do you still see your therapist? If you do, maybe you can talk about your friends with him/her. Or if you go to 12-step meetings, you could share about this. It could help if you talked to someone about this and asked for suggestions...

I really encourage you to give us a call. We're open from 6 to 10 P.M. (Pacific Time) and TEEN LINE is here to listen and counsel you through these things. Our number is (310)-855-4673, and you can call us collect.

Yours,
TEEN LINE