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Linda
adds:
Survivor Support Services
Just an addition:
Most universities,
hospitals and larger than rural towns have crime/rape survivor
services including counseling, group meetings, legal help,
etc.
Sharing
with Other Victims Can Be Easier Than with Family
You can talk
to other women and get lots of different viewpoints that
way. This is easier, in my experience, than talking to friends
and family (at least at first) because there is no "image"
or expectations to live up to. No shocked or angry reactions,
no fear of disappointment, no feeling you have to prop THEM
up because they're so upset, etc. There's nothing like talking
to people who've been through it. They can also prepare
you for various reaction s you might get from people you
know.
Take
Back the Night
I also support
Take Back
the Night, a nation-wide evening in April for victims
to speak out publicly. Not for everyone but eye-opening
(as to how much sexual assualt goes on) and stigma erasing
(how can you feel like a freak if you're the 50th woman
to tell your rape story?).
Good luck and
it gets better. I hope in general that you are comfortable
enough eventually with this or another boyfriend to not
worry about what you tell or don't tell and be secure that
they love you regardless.
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