When and individual attains the
title of survivor, that individual looses a whole lot of themselves. It could be the fear of reliving the
flashbacks, or what they should have done differently so that the incident
would not have happened. They may feel ugly,
alone, powerless, and not like themselves.
When someone decides to make a person a survivor of rape they leave a
different person behind.
Some survivors seek help right away;
they know they need other people around them to help them through this
experience. Others may pretend like it
did not happen, or question if it did really happen. If they decide to ignore what happened it may
stay hidden but not forever. Something,
someone, or a situation will spark that horrific memory, and then you are dealing
with it all over again.
The absolutely great thing about
being a survivor is that you do not have to survive alone. It can be confiding in someone close to you,
or sharing your experiences with other on a more public scale. As supporters of survivors we can give back
the power that was lost. Simply
acknowledging that non consensual sex does happen is providing support. Becoming an active listener is another great
way to support a survivor, listen to her story.
For a survivor getting that story
out there and acknowledging that it did happen can be an amazing step in the
healing process. It also is nice to know
that you are not alone, that other people may have gone through the same
experience and have regained themselves.
It may give you the mentality to say if they can do it I can do it. Becoming a survivor does not have to overtake
you it can become a part of you that makes you a stronger person.
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