Hi Reader,

One of the questions survivors hear most is simple—but heavy:
​“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

I’ve been thinking about that question a lot.
And today, I want to answer it honestly.

Sexual assault is far more common than many people realize.
Most survivors never report—especially when the abuse happens in childhood.

I’m one of them.

​In this post and video, I shared parts of my own story.
Not for shock. Not for sympathy.
But because silence thrives when we don’t understand why survivors stay quiet.

Here are a few of the reasons I didn’t report my abuse when it was happening:

• The person hurting me was someone I trusted and cared about
• I feared the impact on my siblings and parents
• I didn’t have a safe way to speak up
• I didn’t understand manipulation or trauma responses
• I blamed myself
• I wasn’t sure anyone would believe me—or protect me

As a child, I learned to think about everyone else before myself.
That’s not uncommon.
Abusers often rely on that.

I also didn’t know then what I know now about trauma.
Freezing isn’t consent.
Silence isn’t agreement.
And responsibility never belongs to the child.

Sharing this hasn’t been easy.
But I believe understanding these realities helps us do better—for survivors now, and for the kids we’re meant to protect.

​If you want to read the full post or watch the video, you can do that here:
👉 [link to blog post]​

If this topic is personal for you, please go gently.
You’re not broken.
And you’re not alone.

With care,
Jenn

If you’re a survivor and need support, please reach out to a trusted professional or local support service. You deserve care and safety.

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