Sexual Violence – It’s Not Your Fault
Sexual violence takes many forms and can impact people of all ages, genders, religions, ethnicities, and economic classes. It can be done by someone you know or by a stranger. It can happen in rural areas, small towns, or larger cities. Regardless of where it happens, it’s not your fault and it’s never okay for anyone to hurt you.
Sexual trauma impacts mental health and can have long-lasting effects. People who have experienced sexual violence may experience a variety of symptoms including anxiety, depression, self-harm, somatic (body) complaints, trouble concentrating and eating disorders. Sexual assault and rape can also cause survivors to lose trust in others as well as themselves.
The most common form of sexual violence is coercive sex. Coercion can take the form of physical force, threats of harm or even blackmailing. It can also include non-physical force such as emotional intimidation, manipulation or psychological pressure. All types of coercion are a form of sexual violence and all forms of sexual violence are wrong and illegal.
When a person experiences sexual violence it can be very confusing, especially if they don’t know what happened to them. The feelings they have are real and it’s important for them to talk about them with a trusted adult. Survivors can experience a wide range of emotions including anger, sadness and guilt. They can also have difficulty sleeping or concentrating. They might start to avoid certain places or people and be very sensitive around their body parts where the abuse took place. Some survivors try to numb their bodies in order to avoid feeling the pain and they can start to self-injure.
It can be difficult to get accurate information about the prevalence of sexual violence in a given area or region. Data on sexual violence comes from a variety of sources, including police records, clinical settings, nongovernmental organizations and survey research. However, it’s important to remember that this is only a small part of the overall picture as many cases of sexual violence go unreported.
It’s important for children to understand that sexual abuse and rape are not their fault. It is not their fault if they were in the wrong place at the wrong time or if they were drunk or on drugs. It’s not their fault if they weren’t dressed properly or if someone made them do something they didn’t want to do. It’s important for parents to keep an eye out for any warning signs that their child is experiencing sexual violence, including avoiding certain body parts, acting like a younger child, having new words for private body parts, wetting the bed or soiling themselves, and behaving in a suspicious way. If your child is showing any of these behaviors, you should seek help.