Hi there,
Thanks very much for writing to me. It sounds like what you and your little brother saw was really upsetting for you.
Sometimes when something happens that is very scary or upsetting, people find that they have flashbacks which can make them feel like it is all happening again. This can be a horrible experience, but it is a normal reaction to a very frightening event. Over time this can get easier to cope with and stop happening. Talking to someone you trust, or concentrating on taking some slow deep breaths can help you feel less scared. If you would like to talk more about this then you could always speak to a ChildLine counsellor.
When something upsetting happens, talking about how you are feeling can really help. You didnt say in your letter whether youve told anyone else what you saw? If you havent, Id really suggest that you and your brother think about telling an adult, so they can support you when you are feeling scared. You could also talk to the adult about telling the police what happened, so that they can make sure the child you saw is safe now.
If you ever think that you or someone else is in danger then the quickest way to get help is to call 999. If you feel that you arent sure what to do in a situation, then talking to an adult you trust or ChildLine might be a good idea. There are several different ways to speak to a ChildLine counsellor. You can contact them by phone on 0800 1111 (calls are free), send an email or by log on for a 1-2-1 chat, however you feel the most comfortable. Well done for being brave and telling me what happened.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
