Aunt Helen, Charlie's beloved aunt in The Perks of Being a Wallflower , sexually abused him when he was a young boy. Although Charlie initially has fond memories of her and believes she cared for him deeply, he later represses the traumatic memory of her molestation. This abuse profoundly affects Charlie's emotional development, contributing to his struggles with confidence, expressing desires, and his passive approach to relationships. The revelation of this abuse comes to light when Charlie begins a sexual encounter with Sam, triggering repressed memories and PTSD symptoms. Aunt Helen's own history of abuse and trauma contributed to this cycle of abuse, as she had been molested in her childhood and struggled with substance abuse and abusive relationships as an adult. Charlie eventually confronts this trauma during his time in a psychiatric facility, which helps him begin to heal and engage more fully with life