I had a friend who was sexually abused in childhood by the spouse of her cousin.

I'm sorry your friend had to suffer such abuse. I don't really know what advice to give you in handling this situation as I have never been in your place, but, as with all problems, what you can do is to continue being by her side. It is already too horrible a feeling to experience what she has, being dismissed as a liar—and by her own mother at that—will be even more depressing, especially since all children would expect total support from their parents. If the family is unhelpful, you can ask professional help from a lot of NGOs that support such cases. Cases like these need to be resolved because there it has a tendency to continue. And if it doesn't stop, your friend will suffer more and more until she reaches a breaking point. Maybe she needs to ask some psychiatric help as well, because these things take a great deal to overcome. She needs to know that she has no fault in this and that coming out and telling someone is a good thing. I hope your friend solves her problems soon. And you're a great friend to stay by her side.

dear sharie, it is very sad to learn that her mother did not believe her. sometimes i wonder that why some people do so. what will happen to them if any other person does the same thing to their child. But i have seen that some people do not have any moral. Only GOD can help them

It would be better to forget the incident. Raking those moments again will not help much, it is history now. Please ask to her divert her attention away from that ill-fated incident. She has to lead an entire life, ahead of her.

Hi sharie, that is very sad! I am wondering why her mom is not supporting her! ANyway, it takes time to heal especially in this case that her life is ruin by this selfish man, I wish she will be able to find a job away from that environment for a new surrounding for her!

While I have never had to deal with the situation of having someone not believe me I was sexually abused as a child. Despite what some people sy do not encourage them to just forget it because it is in the past. I spent most of my teen years doing that. Then as an adult getting married it suddnely hit me how much some of the stuff had truly aaffected me. It really did affect how i interacted with my husband. I had cone ot counseling for years, but they let me just ignore it too. Do not force her to talk about it, but don't prevent it either. Just be there, listen and be the shoulder to cry on and the support to lean on her mother should have been. You are a great friend to be wanting to help her so.