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I always think about how my life could have been different if had I known back then a story like what ended up happening to me.
– Survivor1
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I read stories similar to mine. It made me realize even though it was traumatic, and I still have lots of work to do, I am not alone.
– Survivor2
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It took me 5 years to realize I was sexually assaulted – and now I can finally recover.
– Survivor3
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Understanding how the brain responds to emotional stimuli like fear would have saved me over a decade of guilt and anxiety.
– Survivor4
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I felt like my experience was invalid and this made it difficult for me to heal.
– Survivor5
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If I could go back in time, knowing what I know now, I would report it, but I didn’t.
– Survivor6
The Herstory survivor guide
The time after being sexually assaulted can feel overwhelming, and it can be difficult to know where to begin. Having factual information, and seeing your experience reflected in the stories of others’ can help to empower you, and be a step towards regaining a sense of agency. We’ve digested the key information from Herstory into our sexual assault survivor guide to support you in your journey of discovery and healing. We hope you find it insightful and helpful. You can download it below, completely free.
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One day you will tell your story of how you’ve overcome what you’re going through now, and it will become part of someone else’s survival guide.
– Unknown
Sources:
1. Morton, R. (Retrieved 25 Sep 2020). I Was Raped and Broken. So I Picked up My Camera. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/07/opinions/rosem-morton-sexual-assault-cnnphotos/
2 . Blair, J. (24 Mar 2016). Women Do What They Need to Do to Survive. Hazlitt. https://hazlitt.net/feature/women-do-what-they-need-do-survive
3. Thottam, I. (4 November 2019). It took me 5 years to realize I was sexually assaulted – and now I can finally recover. The Temper. https://www.thetemper.com/years-to-realize-sexually-assaulted/
4. Corvo, J. (29 September 2018). Why I Froze and Smiled During My Sexual Assault. Human Parts. https://humanparts.medium.com/why-i-silently-froze-and-smiled-during-my-sexual-assault-7bf5d56deebc
5. (17 May 2016). Ferguson, S. 5 Reasons why non-traditional rape narratives are important. Everyday Feminism. https://everydayfeminism.com/2016/05/non-traditional-rape-narratives/
6. (9 October 2018). ‘I didn’t realise what happened was rape.’ BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/92f0eb4e-3cf2-4f5a-840e-3a5ba92d8bea