Ihtm - xoJane

It Happened To Me: I Spent My Twenties In A Cult

Missy Wilkinson — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:00 -0400

Five years after leaving the group and hearing a bunch of people say, “That sounds like a cult,” I’m ready to admit I was brainwashed.

It Happened To Me: I Had A Sexual Relationship With My Teacher And Then He Became My Legal Guardian

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

All we needed was my dad’s permission and a bunch of paperwork, and I could be on his health insurance, live with him senior year, and most importantly, cut down on or completely eliminate contact with my dad.

It Happened To Me: My Boyfriend's Last Girlfriend Was A Hooker

Anonymous — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:00:00 -0400

How could my cherished and super-lovely professional boyfriend have pined for a woman who made a career out of selling sex?   And if she fucked guys for a living, was she far better in bed than me?

It Happened To Me: I Had Weight-Loss Surgery And I'm Still Fat

Jo Murray — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:00:00 -0400

I bought a scale and was horrified to see that I was up nearly 30 pounds from my lowest. It was the worst sin: regain.

It Happened To Me: My Own Grandmother Canceled My Wedding

Lisa Czarina — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400

When this story is repeated, the listener always exhibits complete disbelief.

It Happened To Me: My Husband Of A Decade Forged My Signature And Divorced Me Without My Knowledge

Anonymous — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:00:00 -0400

I will tell you, when someone commits a felony in order to no longer share their life with you, it’s a big, fat, fucking “FUCK YOU!” with a judge’s approval.

I Was Sexually Abused By My Younger Brother And I Still Don't Know What To Do About It

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:00:00 -0400

Abuse is what happened to children left alone with evil stepfathers. Abuse wasn’t pushing your little brother’s hands away, again and again, until you finally just froze up and zoned out and let it happen.

It Happened To Me Contest Entry: I Lost 98 Pounds And Fell In Love By Dating Escorts

IHTM CONTESTANT — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:00:00 -0500

Diet, Exercise and Gigolos --  8 different companions, 20 dates in 13 months  98 pounds/42.5 inches/12 dress sizes lost.

It Happened To me Contest Entry: My Father was Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

IHTM CONTESTANT — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:30:00 -0500

My dad doesn’t always remember what I tell him, I often find myself repeating things, and yes, one day I may show up and he won’t remember my name.

It Happened To Me Contest Entry: I Was A Cough Syrup Addict

IHTM CONTESTANT — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:30:00 -0500

I discovered you could get high off cough syrup by accident. There was an article about these kids who had overdosed on it and ended up in hospital

A Complete Stranger Bought Me A 1,400 Dollar Purse

Laurie Zerwer — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:30:00 -0500

The man was easily my father’s age, maybe older. I wasn’t sure what his angle was, but I have never been in the habit of letting strange men buy me gifts.

It Happened To Me Contest Entry: I Just Hit Rock Bottom With Alcohol

IHTM CONTESTANT — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:00:00 -0500

I’m a human being that deals with mental illness in self-destructive ways, not a bunch of orifices for you to poke because you think my reckless treatment of my body somehow cancels out my autonomy over it.

It Happened to Me: I Dropped out of High School, Then Became a High School Teacher

IHTM CONTESTANT — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:02:04 -0500

When I was 15, I dropped out of high school. That time is a blur of sadness, of prayers for change, for mercy from a God I thought was punishing me for something I did not understand.

It Happened To Me Contest Entry: Joblessness Crushed My Spirit

IHTM CONTESTANT — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:00:00 -0500

There was no amount of hard work or strategizing that could end my situation. I just had to go through it like millions of other people who were silently enduring being crushed by nothingness.

It Happened to Me Contest Entry: I Sued My Best Friend To Get My Money Back

IHTM CONTESTANT — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:00:00 -0500

Peers, take note: If you’re planning to steal over $400 from your friend, know thy privacy settings. When suing my best friend didn’t make her pay me back, tracking her social media and telling her dad got me payment in full.

It Happened To Me Contest Entry: I Survived Anorexia

IHTM CONTESTANT — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Eating again was confusing at first -- after not listening to my body for so long, I honestly couldn’t tell the difference between when I was hungry and when I was full.

It Happened To Me Contest Entry: My Best Friend Committed Suicide

IHTM CONTESTANT — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:30:00 -0500

As the “It Gets Better” campaign becomes a movement, my feelings are bittersweet. Would Rone have taken solace in messages of hope from others?

It Happened To Me Contest Entry: I'm Addicted To Cutting

IHTM CONTESTANT — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:00:00 -0500

In the seven years of my off-and-on affair with cutting, I've crossed several lines I promised I wouldn't.

It Happened To Me Contest Entry: I Thought I Got Drugged On An OkCupid Date

IHTM CONTESTANT — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:00:00 -0500

I spent the next 48 hours not sure what would be the more troublesome result -- that I had in fact been drugged, or that I had not, and therefore had to deal with this mind-blowing sex deal for what it was.

It Happened To Me Contest Entry: My Daughter Was Sexually Abused For Three Years And I Couldn't Stop It

IHTM CONTESTANT — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:00:00 -0500

My story is about what I went through, trying and failing to protect her and the tragic inaction by police, social workers and the family court system that created a nightmare I never thought we’d escape.