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support circle
understanding abuse & sexual trauma
hello lovely human
we appreciate you stopping by
this is a great place to start in your journey of supporting someone who has been subjected to sexual violence & abuse
what is going on for us?
those of us who have been subjected to sexual violence & abuse will have different triggers & individual responses to trauma. The long-term effects can also differ greatly. because of this, it is important that you respect each person's own way of coping. trauma can remain present even after years after the event has taken place.
trauma could look like...
feeling hyper
& alert
difficulty
eating &/or
sleeping
self-blame
flashbacks to
the
traumatic
event(s)
feeling
confused &
hopeless
feeling shame
or a sense of
violation
feel compelled
to wash
obsess over
the details of
the traumatic
event(s)
having thoughts
about suicide
& self-harm
if you or someone who are supporting is experiencing suicidal thoughts, it is important that you tell someone about it right away. you can call one of the hotlines listed here or call 999 for immediate help if you or someone else is in danger now. help and support are available for you right now. you never have to face your feelings alone.
ways to start supporting
encourage us to make
our own decisions rather than suggest things that we could do. make sure that we feel heard, in control of the situation. we want to feel that our feelings are being validated.
try your best to determine our immediate needs & support us in ways that these needs can be met. this could be medical attention, food, water, shelter or even just a friendly face that they can talk to.
individuals subjected to sexual violence & abuse may have ongoing troubles with carrying out their everyday activities. please be patient with us and give us time to heal from our trauma. please don't expect us to be our usual selves.
if you are able to, try to focus on the thoughts, reactions & feelings of the person that has been subjected to sexual violence & abuse, rather than your own when supporting them. but keep in mind that your feelings are equally as important & you should seek support for yourself as well when you need to.
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