Resurrection After Rape Community Group
Discussion, question-and-answer, general social support, and journal processing for progress-oriented rape survivors. No crisis, no damaging or triggering conflicts--this is for individuals who want to contribute to collective, cooperative action toward the goal of making actual PROGRESS through rape trauma. Much of this work is based on the book "Resurrection After...
So I'm going to attempt to go to a support group for the first time tomorrow. It is a drop in type group at the local rape crisis center that meets every other week. The topic sort of gets figured out at the time of the meeting by whomever happens to be there.
I know that I struggle with being open about the fact I was raped and aside from therapy, I don't really really talk about it. Actually, I have difficult admitting it happened at all. I'm hoping that going to this group will at least be a step in trying to acknowledge that this stuff did happen and I'm hoping it will show me that it will be ok if other people who can actually see me know about it.
After I got off the phone with the contact person today, I cried. I felt like someone had died. There was this overwhelming sadness that I couldn't explain. I can understand being anxious but I can't quite figure out the sadness.
I know that I struggle with being open about the fact I was raped and aside from therapy, I don't really really talk about it. Actually, I have difficult admitting it happened at all. I'm hoping that going to this group will at least be a step in trying to acknowledge that this stuff did happen and I'm hoping it will show me that it will be ok if other people who can actually see me know about it.
After I got off the phone with the contact person today, I cried. I felt like someone had died. There was this overwhelming sadness that I couldn't explain. I can understand being anxious but I can't quite figure out the sadness.
As for the crying and sadness after speaking with the contact person - maybe you are allowing yourself to experience your sadness in a new way, or at a new level. It is so sad to be raped - it's such an invasion on so many levels. I'm finding that grief is a big part of my rape therapy. First I grieved because I felt that the person I was before the rapes had died, and I was grieving for her loss. Now that I've been delving into therapy, I find that the person I used to be is still there - she'd just gone undercover because she felt so unable to deal with the rapes. Now I'm grieving because she didn't get to experience life the way she would have wanted to - I was so busy trying to be a harder person than I really am. She missed out on many things, possibly including love. But at least I know she isn't dead.
I wish you well. It takes guts to go into a new therapy venue, so don't forget to congratulate yourself on your courage!