Rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse are sexual activities involving a person who does not or cannot consent. Victims of sexual violence are left feeling vulnerable, angry, betrayed, frightened, violated, dirty, embarrassed and powerless.
In many cases of rape and sexual abuse, the predator is a man the woman is dating.This is commonly called Date Rape or Aquaintance Rape. These are the most common type of rape committed.
Breaking the silence it's the first step to recovery. Every time you break the silence and trust someone, you are one step farther in your healing journey.
Don't hide in a dark corner...
Survivors share their thoughts and feelings on the Aftermath
I felt safe because I knew him; because he wasn't a stranger.
Shame is one of the most overwhelming emotions experienced by survivors of sexual abuse.....
Anger is a stage of grief many people go through when a traumatic event is caused by the deliberate act of another human being. Not everyone feels it, but many do. It is a natural part of our self-preservation response.
Many survivors of sexual abuse have flashbacks. These flashbacks are a reliving of the original abuse. This can happen visually in images one remembers of the abuse, or they can happen without any visual image.
Research indicates that among persons suffering from Eating Disorders as many as 85% have been victims of a sexual abuse. Eating disorders involve serious disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme and unhealthy reduction of food intake or severe overeating, as well as feelings of distress or extreme concern about body shape or weight....
In 1972-73, Ann Wolbert Burgess and Lynda Lytle Holstrom interviewed over 600 survivors of sexual assault and identified the "Rape Trauma Syndrome".
More specifically, RTS is a response to the profound fear of death that almost all survivors experience during the assault.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Among those who may experience PTSD are survivors of accidents, rape, physical and sexual abuse, and other crimes.
Numerous physical problems occur with greater frequency among women with sexual assault histories than among women who have not experienced sexual assault.
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Rape can happen to anyone-children, students, wives, mothers, working women, grandmothers, the rich and poor, and boys and men. REMEMBER, RAPE IS NOT YOUR FAUL. DO NOT ACCEPT BLAME FOR BEING AN INNOCENT VICTIM.
"A lot of times you shut off your whole heart off from your experience -- you close the door, and you wither and die. My hope is that the RAINN hotline can be a bridge to the next step."
Maya Angelou is a survivor and one of the greatest poets of our time. She is an example of great courage and inspiration.
Angela Shelton’s important message of ending violence.
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