[Moxie.]

Hey there,

I'm so sorry that this happened to you. Please remember that you are incredibly strong! As difficult as it may feel, you will get through this.

It's completely understandable that you're concerned about going back to school, especially when one of your abusers works at the school. Triggers may start to decrease over time, but removing them entirely is a challenging process...and one I haven't quite figured out myself. Perhaps you could talk to a trusted adult in your life, such as a favorite teacher or counselor, about what you're experiencing. While they may not be able to change the circumstances, having their support can be massively helpful. If possible, I also recommend keeping your distance from your former best friend and the school staff member as much as you can.

Grounding yourself is a great action to take when dealing with triggers. Personally, I like to engage with my senses to help ground myself. This could look like identifying things that you can see, touch, smell, hear, etc. Doing so can help bring you back to the present moment if you start to have flashbacks about what occurred. I personally also always keep headphones on me, as I find music to be a great grounding tool.

Unfortunately, I don't have much to offer in terms of gathering evidence after that amount of time. You may want to consider reaching out to local law enforcement or doing some research into your state laws to determine what your next steps should be. Both avenues should provide you with some information about what you can do.

I know this is an incredibly challenging time, but I know you'll get through it.

Take care,
Sam