Sexual Abuse

What do I do: If I have been sexually abused?

1. Remember that you are a victim. No matter what happened before, during, or after the abuse you need to know that you were manipulated and used by a predator. The person who abused you had no right to do so, no matter what you may, or may not, have done.
2. Bring your secret out of the darkness. Find someone that you can trust to talk about it. One of the first steps in recovery from sexual trauma is to talk to someone about the facts of the abuse. If you have tried talking and find that you were not believed, then find someone else. Try talking to a trusted parent, school teacher, a minister, or close friend. You will need an ally in your journey to overcome the effects of the abuse. Even though you may feel like no one will ever believe you and that you would just rather be alone, you need to fight that urge and allow others to help you. You don’t have to share all the details at first, but at least begin by letting someone know that you were hurt and are struggling. Don’t let anyone manipulate or talk you into not telling your story.
3. Avoid turning to destructive acts and habits in an effort to control or overcome the pain. Some things that survivors of sexual abuse/trauma often turn to include drugs, alcohol, illicit sexual experiences, self-injury (cutting, burning, etc), and suicidal acts.
4. Don’t give up. You might experience setbacks on the way. When you do, don’t let guilt set in, but keep working to overcome the abuse. Strive to maintain hope, even in your deepest hour of pain.
5. You may need to seek out the help of a professional counselor. It is not shameful to seek out professional help. May people have found freedom from the torment of their past through professional counseling.
6. For support, call the HopeLine (1-800-394-HOPE) to talk or visit www.dmlive.com to chat with a live person.