This March marked SAPAC’s first full year hosting the Peer Led Support Group (PLSG).The group was started as a way for survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, and sexual harassment to have a place to drop-in once a week to focus on self-care and spending time with others who may have faced similar life experiences.The group is open to both male and female survivors.It has bee
You may be wondering who you should tell or what you should say to significant people in your life. Parents, friends, employers, neighbors, and partners can be sources of support and solace. Follow your own heart when deciding who to turn to. You may worry that you are relying on others too much. It is okay to ask for help in times of crisis. People who truly care about you will want to help; people who truly care about you may need to be told how to help you. It is okay to tell people what you need from them. It is okay to say:
Individuals outside your immediate circle of loved ones can also provide support and acceptance that may aid in your recovery. You are the person to determine the type of help that is most useful for you. If you are a University of Michigan student, staff, faculty or alumni, please consider using SAPAC as a resource. If you are a Michigan resident, keep in mind that throughout the state of Michigan there are rape crisis centers that offer advocacy and counseling. Don’t hesitate to seek help from these programs.
Initial Crisis: For the first few days or weeks, the assault may seem unreal. You may feel numb or you may experience intense or heightened emotions. You might even have physical symptoms of shock: feeling weak, nauseated, moving slowly, nightmares or inability to sleep. There is nothing wrong or unusual about these kinds of reactions.
Experiencing so many different emotions is a part of working through what has happened to you. Right now, you may wonder when you will “get your life back.” Or, perhaps, you are not feeling much at all. There is no right or wrong way to react to sexual assault. Many survivors have found that patience, time, and support from others has helped them recover. SAPAC and other rape crisis centers have worked with many who have had similar experiences. A good counselor will understand and help you work through the emotional roller coaster that you may be on.
Survivors of sexual assault experience a wide range of reactions. Some have said that after the assault their emotions go up and down or from one extreme to another. It is important for you to know that what you are feeling and thinking right now is okay. Your reactions are your own way of coping with the crime that has been committed against you.
There is no standard response to sexual assault. You may experience a few, none, or all of the following:
Abuse is sometimes difficult to detect because it is manipulative and usually begins very subtly. Often abusive tactics are disguised as acts of love and care. The following are some questions to ask yourself about whether you are in an abusive relationship.
