How Do I Know if I Have Been Sexually Abused?
NOTE: The following data has been reproduced from Saahas, an app for individuals facing gender based violence to find assistance easily, created by Kirthi Jayakumar.
Kirthi has been a huge pillar of support and a personification of kindness and generosity since the get-go of this initiative. Members of The Neeti Project hold deep gratitude towards her constant support and contributions to make this space and the world at large, a better place.
(Image souce: Twitter @VITAL)Taken From: Saahas App
This is not an easy question to ask or to answer, especially when it involves looking into the past to understand, internalize and put a term of reference to what happened to a person.
Some of the things to assess about the incident would be:
1. To determine, as closely as possible, what exactly did happen. This can be triggering, emotionally draining and exacting. It is a good idea to do this when you are in a safe environment, and support in any form that you deem best fitting to your needs is within reach.
2. Make notes if you think it will help.
3. If the question is one of assault having happened in the present, a medical examination and evidence collection (saving clothing, not bathing, etc.,) can be useful steps to take.
4. To determine, as closely as possible, (especially if it is an incident that happened in the past) how that incident impacts you in the present. Sometimes, unhealed / unaddressed incidents of trauma one faces as in the past can continue to affect one, physically, mentally, emotionally and socially.
5. For many people, acknowledging what happened is the first attempt towards healing, and therefore, can be a significant step for many to take.
5. For many people, acknowledging what happened is the first attempt towards healing, and therefore, can be a significant step for many to take.
6. There is no pressure:
- to come out with your story
- come out with your identity
- to press charges
- to name the perpetrator or
- to even feel the need to go public with your story.
7. That said, should you wish to come out with or without your identity, to press charges, to name the perpetrator or to go public with your story, the decision to do any or all of these remains only yours to make.
8. Please take all the advice you need, seek recourse as you deem fit, but no one can and should force you to decide one way or the other.
9. Labels, if any, are yours to adopt and not for anyone to foist upon you.
***
Reference
Saahas. https://gbvsurvivorsupport.wixsite.com/saahas/post/how-do-i-know-if-i-have-been-sexually-abused
Comments
Post a Comment