Effects of Sexual Violence
Many individuals may not comprehend how extensive the effects of sexual violence are.
Here are some of the many things victims of sexual violence have experienced post trauma:
Depression
Anxiety
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Guilt
Flashbacks
Nigh Terrors
Mood Swings
Fear of Crowds
Uncomfortable with Physical Contact
Fear of Trusting Others
Emotionally Numb, Cold, or Unexpressive
Excessive Crying
Promiscuity
Deep Fear of Sexual Contact
Unexplainable Behavior
Alcohol, Drug Abuse
Some individuals who have experienced sexual abuse at a young age might even grow up to be sexually abusive towards others.
A great resource to use when wanting to talk to your children about sexual abuse, or any abusive behavior, is RAINN.org
SO Exciting! Hosting my first dinner party!
I am SO sorry that I have not written lately. This week is midterm week and between studying, classes, stressing about classes, and taking much needed naps, I have found little time to hop on and write. Today is a very, very exciting day!! I can’t believe I actually am making friends….
But let me back up a little bit and press play so you can understand why this is so important…
Growing up I was always told, “you’re not a people person”, “you don’t like to work with others”, “you don’t care about anyone except yourself”, “you need to be this” or “how about you do that” and so on went my life. It wasn’t that I wasn’t a people person, it’s that I was always forced to only hang out with a select group of people in selected situations who I dind’t connect with. I ended up truly believing that I didn’t like people.
This idea that I wasn’t a people person truly influenced my life. On the inside I was extremely upset with the fact that I couldn’t connect with others because my environment was so limiting- hence I would be distraught and wouldn’t form relationships. Over time, I just became an angry reclouse.
Finally, when I got to high school, I was very excited about being around people, and I loved it, but since I was so unaware of how to form relationships, I fell pray to a lot of bullying and scrutiny- which I especially didn’t like because I already experienced this my whole life. I eventually did make friend- only to have those friends throw me under the bus and bully me out of high school. I left high school early, and finished my diploma at community college. Ever since then, I didn’t make very many friends or even tried… until lately.
I thoroughly enjoy talking to people, making small talk conversations, helping others through a tough situation, and communicating. I have excellent communication skills; I just never used them because I thought I wasn’t capable, or I thought anything I said would be used against me, but I’m finally taking steps (even though they may be tiny) to coming out of my shell. I asked Will yesterday if he’d eat lunch with me- and he accepted! I actually ate lunch with someone other than my boyfriend- and I actually enjoyed it! Then, I told Ken that I would make a pie for him and invite Nick over sometime to have a few beers! Great!
Today, I actually invited Will and Brie to dinner with my boyfriend and I. I’ve known them since I started college here and my boyfriend, Mike, has known them for years. I’m hosting my very frist “dinner party”! I’ve always dreamed about hosting dinner parties and having get togethers, but I always put it off figuring the timing had to be just perfect, but after Spring Break, I’ll be inviting people into my home with dinner!
Anyway, that’s all I have for now… Thanks for reading!
Resources
This will be an ongoing post with lists reasources in every state to contact for more information on child abuse, sexual abuse, or domestic violence. I’ll also list some reasources for reporting abuse just in case anyone reading wanted to know. In order:
Alabama:
Alabama Coalation Against Sexual Violence: http://www.acar.org/
Alabama Department of Child Protective Services: (334) 242-9500
Alabama Department of Public Health: https://www.adph.org/injuryprevention/index.asp?id=1030
Alabama Domestic Violence Reasource: http://www.aardvarc.org/dv/states/aldv.shtml
Alaska:
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services: http://dhss.alaska.gov/ocs/Pages/publications/reportingchildabuse.aspx
Alaska Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-478-4444
Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault: http://dps.alaska.gov/cdvsa/
Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault: http://www.andvsa.org/
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Arizona:
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona: http://www.pcaaz.org/
Arizona Child Abuse Info Center: http://www.childhelpinfocenter.org/
Childhelp Chidren’s Center of Arizona: http://www.childhelp.org/programs/entry/children-center-of-arizona/
State of Arizona Reporting Procedures: http://www.azed.gov/state-board-education/files/2012/10/state-of-arizona-child-abuse-reporting-procedures.pdf
Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence: http://www.azcadv.org/
Arizona Department of Health Services: http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/owch/women/domestic-violence/
…..More later
Superhero
“I want to come here everyday and be with Karen. It’s fun and I feel safe. I learned no one had the right to hurt me and if they do it’s not my fault. I’m a superhero because I told and now the bad guy can’t hurt me or any other children anymore.”
Antonia, Age 4
Antonia, Age 4
Via: Racheal’s Rest
Letting Go Is Not The Same As Giving Up.
Love this.
The Seasoning House
Directed by Paul Hyett to remind viewers that human trafficking is on the rise.
Human Trafficking and Sexual Abuse Rates Are on the Rise
Human trafficking and sexual abuse are on the rise. Statistically, the top ten countries primarily combating in order from first to last are countries Bangladesh, Brazil, Haiti, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Uganda, Ghana and China. Human trafficking has been reported to occur more widely in countries that struggle with issues of poverty and under-development.
However, despite these reports the UK sex abuse trafficking market has been reported to have doubled this year alone regarding sexual exploitation. Regardless of whether they were being transported out of the UK, an estimated 56 minors were highlighted as potential victims of trafficking for sexual abuse.
In reality, a large majority of individuals do not fall under the categorization of free citizens. Slavery may be legally abolished, however the keystones of humanity continue to encompass people who are under non- negotiable rules of livelihood, such as sexual violation and forced drug-use leading to addiction.
Human trafficking is the trade of humans which generates quick and easy money. The people most commonly involved are women who are used for purposes of sexual slavery, forced slavery or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficking of others. It can occur within one country or transport between different nations. It does not always involve involuntary transportation of a person, but is based more upon exploitation like sexual abuse.
An estimated $650 billion alone was made annually on trafficking in 2010, and statistics have shown that human trafficking and personal sexual abuse rates are on the rise. In order to raise awareness of the ongoing problems about human trafficking, neo-horror films like The Seasoning House, produced by Michael Riley have been broadcast. The YouTube trailer by Michael Riley can be seen below:
http://guardianlv.com/2014/02/human-trafficking-and-sexual-abuse-rates-are-on-the-rise/
The director Paul Hyett stated that the extreme story line and visual content acted as a device to remind the public of the ongoing reality of human trafficking. It was not just another violent movie with no meaning behind the narration, but rather something that radiated an interesting emotional study. The characters became someone to whom you could empathize with and remember the sexual struggles being encountered by those in less fortunate circumstances such as war, and remember that these state of affairs are still ingrained into the modern world.
The reason violence predominates classic and mainstream movies is because violence is easier to write about than comedy and straight drama, because it consists of killings and chase scenes, and also violence is easier to watch – you do not have to think in-depth and you only have to gaze at the screen.
Human trafficking and sexual abuse rates are on the rise, but traffickers have established such a strong network throughout the world that universally, police are finding it extremely difficult to curb and terminate these activities. Human exchange is extremely inhumane and goes against all human rights principles, and human trafficking of both women and children is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world, despite the overall 134 laws in different countries trying to prevent it from happening. People need to be aware that human trafficking is on the rise and that further concrete action needs to be instigated in order to put an end to the violation of the flesh and human rights.
By Melissa McDonald
Via Guardianlv.com
Survivor
April 2013
Becoming A Warrior 