After my mother assaulted me for not allowing her to drive intoxicated I had a lot of fears. She had never laid a hand on me or my siblings before. I feared that she would assault me again and I didn’t want to be around her. I changed my life activities so I would see her as little as possible. I especially avoided her when I knew she would be drunk.

I feared that what my mother did to me was my fault and that I deserved it. I feared how my mother would act in the future. I didn’t know how she felt about going to prison and I couldn’t express my fears to my family and friends because I was confused.

After going to Alateen, I realized that everything that had happened was not my fault—that it was the alcohol. I learned I should not dwell on the past nor fear the future—I had to take it one day at a time.

Rachel, CT