People who have been through traumatic events such as rape or sexual assault can find themselves feeling confused, vulnerable, ashamed, and isolated as a result of these experiences. Unbelievably, it takes place more frequently than most people would think it would.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every five women will, at some point in their lives, be the victim of sexual assault, which is typically carried out by a person they are familiar with and can put their trust in. It is possible for men and boys to be victims of sexual assault as well.
People lose their sense of safety and security when they are subjected to sexual violence or rape, regardless of their age or gender. As a direct consequence of this, it is not unusual for individuals who have been the target of an attack to struggle with trust. They may even begin to question their judgement, their sense of self-worth, and even their sanity as a result.
Relationships do not feel secure any longer for rape victims and intimacy appears to be extremely difficult for them. In addition to this, they may tell themselves lies about who they are and engage in behaviors such as self-hatred and self-blame.
Remember that what you are thinking, feeling, and experiencing is a normal reaction to the trauma that you have experienced. This is especially important if you have been the victim of sexual assault or another violent act. And remember, despite how challenging things may appear to be right now, there is always cause for optimism.
You are able to reclaim your feeling of security. You are capable of regaining your trust. And perhaps most importantly, you have the ability to recover and continue living your life.
Assuming the event occurred not too long ago, the first thing you should do is examine your current state of safety. Depending on where you are, you might want to go to the home of a friend or find someone who can assist you in a public place to take you to nearby hospital.
Despite the fact that what occurred to you is illegal, you are not required to report it to the police unless you choose to do so on your own volition. You have complete and total control over this matter.
On the other hand, some of the survivors claim that by filing a report, they were able to regain the feeling that they were in control of their lives. If you do make the decision to report what took place, you might find it helpful to bring a close friend or family member with you for moral support.
We support girls and women Through our projects and we join them to say no to rape. Visit hacey.org for more information on our work!
Written By:
Michael Adegboye
