I
collected most of this glass at the lakefront with my friend
Adrian. She's the first person I called when i knew I was ready
to talk. She's also one of the people who's story let me know I was not alone in the path my life took post rape. It took me five years of very sharp and jagged glass to learn what it takes to soften the edges. This glass was worn by water until it doesn't cut anymore. It will never go away, but it will hurt less over time. |
I
kept it in my pocket for a few days. She gave me a little tupper
ware thing to hold it in. She was going to give it to good
will. It was in the back of her car. More bad things happened and I realized objects couldn't protect me. Only I can protect me. So I did and then I felt better. |
When
i got back home, I went to the rape crisis center. They told me
what i was just figuring out. My story is common. I thought i had a private hell, but really more than a quarter of all women live through this. I thought it was odd that two of my closest friends had been raped as virgins and then branded as sluts and called a liar. When the second girl told me her story something just clicked in my head. That's what happened to me. There must be a pattern. I went to the crisis center for safety really. I am so used to being attacked for "what" I am. I wanted a headquarters to go to be safe. They gave me this book. Quest for Respect by Linda Braswell. I recognized what phase of healing i was in and that it is normal to be angry or in denial. I knew how to explain myself to people who didn't understand my behaviour.. "I'm in my survivor phase". It makes sense if you know what to expect. No one wants to hear about it so no one knows what to expect and not enough healing goes on. So anyway, I just wanted to tell my story. This is the one that interests me right now. here are some links if you want to find out more: |
These are the most prominent and
well rounded sites I have found. If you are only going to
visit one or two sites for an overview I would recommend one of
the following: Information
on healing from rape - a safe search |
http://www.gmu.edu/facstaff/sexual/effects_of_assault.html#common What can you expect after a person has been raped? In most cases these symptoms prevent rape victims from functioning at full capacity and helping themselves. It's important at this time for others to give their support and help protect them http://www.hopeforhealing.org/not.html What not to say to a rape victim http://www.hopeforhealing.org/friend.html How to help rape victims and the stages of trauma. recommended by the founder (on a message board). You can also order a paper copy. http://www.rainn.org/whatshould.html RAINN how to help rape victims. How can I help a friend who has been sexually assaulted? http://members.tripod.com/lmsurratt/ Understanding Rape Rape is a complex experience. The therapist, of a survivor of rape, should be aware of different factors that shape the survivor's experience. However, the therapist must not only view the survivor in the context of the individual, but also in the context of community. It is an injustice to survivors, to not become aware of the societal and experiential determinants that shape the reactions of a survivor. http://endabuse.org/programs/display.php3?DocID=9916 End Abuse Campaigns: Reaching Men Coaching Boys into Men |
Thanks for reading. Hope you learned something that helps you or someone else one day. |