April is sexual assault awareness month. I wanted to share with you a few statistics. It is common as a survivor to believe you are all alone. Unfortunately, that is quite untrue. Although everyone’s experience is different, and they react differently, many have experienced similar trauma.
According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network)
On average, there are 433,648 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States.
Every 73 seconds someone in the US is sexually assaulted.
You can view more disturbing statistics here.
I also want to share a few links with you in case you need help.
Reporting the assault to authorities.
Recovering from sexual violence
I share these links to be helpful, but know that I do not believe all their steps to be the right process, or what I believe myself in regards to pursuing healing emotionally and spiritually.
Keep in mind that most who experience sexual trauma do not report it. I never did, and most of the survivors I’ve met never did either. That means that is happens even more often than the statistics show.
I share all this with you to encourage you to share your story. To know that you aren’t alone, and hopefully in sharing one day we can make the stats go down instead of up.
I can also tell you this. It was not your fault. It wasn’t. It never will be either. Nothing you did, said, drank, wore, place you went etc. made it okay for someone to do anything to you. I know me telling you that will not change how you feel, as it’s only in healing that you come to realize it was not your fault.
I do pray you come to that realization one day as it’s incredibly freeing. Stay strong my friends and keep turning to Jesus for your strength.
© 2021 Susan M. Clabaugh. All Rights Reserved.
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