Sexual Abuse Support Group
Sexual abuse is a relative cultural term used to describe sexual relations and behavior between two or more parties which are considered criminally and/or morally offensive. Different types of sexual abuse involve: Non-consensual, forced physical sexual behavior such as rape, incest or sexual assault, or psychological forms of abuse, such as verbal sexual behavior or...
I went yesterday to my tribunal, where they were deciding whether or not a crime HAD been committed against me, whether I was to be believed and whether I was entitled to compensation (this I was not as bothered about.)
They asked their questions, they listened to my responses. They had read all the awful statements from my family.
They asked me to leave the room while they deliberated. Normally it takes fifteen to twenty minutes. It took forty five minutes before I was called back in.
I sat down and faced these three strangers, all impartial, all unbiased...and they told me they believed me, that beyond all reasonable doubt a crime had been committed against me. The judge said he wished he could overturn the NFA the police had put on it, but all he could do was advise CICA to award compensation. They could give me a penny for all I care, I got what I needed when they said they believed me.
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I feel so dirty and used I was drunk and passed out at a party when I came around some guy was on top of me rapeing me he covered my mouth and told me to shut up afterwards he got up and got dressed and said I better not tell anyone I found my friend and reported that I had been raped after having medical checks and them getting DNA I've taken the morning after pill IAM just so depressed and...
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Upon his departure, he remarked, "I am in many people’s pockets; no one will believe you." Have you ever grappled with the silence that follows sexual assault, where the perceived impossibility of being believed necessitates self-censorship?
When I read your post it made me wonder what it is about being validated that is so powerful. I went to look up the word: validation--"recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings or opinions are valid or worthwhile."
The image that flashed thru my body after reading that definition was of a person getting a loving hug that said, "you've been heard, we see you, you matter." It was like affirming your existence.
I don't know if that's how it felt to you but I do know you are courageous. Huzzah!
xx
SuzA