James

I’m James

Firstly, even writing this feels a bit weird. It might sound like a cliché, but as a man, bloke, dude, geezer talking about feelings and admitting that you were vulnerable as well it not something that comes naturally.

I am a strong guy. The provider, the one who solves problems, doesn’t have the problem. Helping others is easy, helping myself? Not so much.

I like to think that I understand the situations, but I am lying to myself. Having autism, yes, it’s hard to work out what’s going on and what’s happening. On top of this it’s also very easy for someone to take advantage of me, something that is also not very easy to admit.

I ended up being in a situation where I was being abused mainly mentally but also financially and in other ways as well.

It is only through help and dropping the whole facade of this doesn’t happen to men, and doesn’t make me less of a man that I’ve been able to move on.

Being part of Thrive Beyond Abuse; hopefully I can empower other men as well and make the wider world realise that this can happen to a man and it doesn’t make you any less of a man.

More than anything, asking for help should always be seen a sign of strength and never as a sign of weakness.