Sign in or 
| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 13 2009, 8:19 AM EST (current) | KathyRME | 200 words added, 10 words deleted |
| Sep 15 2008, 12:35 AM EDT | KathyRME | 1 photo added |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
This page is under construction - Thank you for your patience.
Here, I hope that you find some information that may answer some of your long held questions. Whether they may be, "Why do I have the same nightmare all the time?", or "What are some of the different stages of healing I may go through?" or even "How long is this going to take?".
I may not be able to provide all the information you need to answer every one of your questions, but that is why I made this site interactive. Please feel free to jump right in with any of your own discoveries of resources. (Just so you know, I am trying to add all my information from reputable books and websites. Please acknowledge your sources when sharing so others can access the original source - I know I like to own a book someone is telling me is a great resource :o)
Gathering Information:
As I had said earlier, coming to this site is a great way to gather information. Here, you will discover information that is pertinent to a sexual abuse healing journey; information recommended by someone who has been on the path to healing for many years. So, you can have faith that the information may help you.
Sometimes, gathering information has to start with you. It is important for you to examine what your needs are. This is a good opportunity to take the time to look at yourself and discover what the best path is for you. Listen to your thoughts and your feelings. You may not be able to sort through all your thoughts or describe all your feelings right now, but you can try to listen to the ones that seem to be closest to the surface; the ones that seem to be the loudest.
Look at the people around you in your life. What people do you want as support and resources? Whom do you trust enough to let into your inner circle of support; trust enough to share you most sacred inner thoughts and feelings; trust enough to help you along your healing journey?
If you keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings, this can be a great resource to point you in a direction to other support. Maybe your journal shows people you admire, trust, respect and who you think respects you. Maybe you wrote about a movie or a book that made you feel good. These two items can become great resources to help you bring up a sad mood later. You can gather other such resources by tending lectures, reading more books, watching movies others recommend, listing music you find relaxing, discovering on line sites that speak to your needs.
In addition to discovering resources within and around your immediate self, it can be very helpful to discover what resources are available in your surrounding communities.
Community Organizations:
By community organizations, I mean crisis centers, support systems,systems like church groups and support groups, and therapy.
I have placed a link to the list of the Department of Justice Sexual Assault Assistance Centers from all over the USA on my home page and my links of interest page. This link is a great start to find the state crisis center in your home state. This
is
Sexual anassault/crisis centers are invaluable resourceresources for gathering free information and support in your state. TheseThe state coalitions can place you in contact with one of the crisis center nearest you. This
A crisis center can provide free literature, a 24 hour helpline allowinghelpline-allowing you the opportunity to talk, support groups, informational presentations, and much more. Also, these local centers can also assist you if you are in a position that you need to place a protection of harassment/abuse order on a perpetrator. They have court advocates who can support you through the whole process (and remember, most crisis center provide such services free of cost).
Most communities also offer outpatient counseling services through a county mental health clinic. These clinics usually also include a crisis unit or inpatient hospital unit. Being an outpatient client means that you see a counselor for individual or group therapy for one or two hours a week. Being an inpatient means you have the option of staying overnight and having counselors available to you twenty-four hours a day. Typical inpatient stays range anywhere from one day to a few weeks. Sometimes these crisis units are established in a large home setting which can be more comfortable for some. No matter the surroundings, the idea is to have the support and care there when you need it.
For some survivors, church groups provide a community of supportive people who are nurturing and comforting. However, when choosing any support circle, keep in mind that you should be able to talk about your experiences and feelings honestly, without judgment or blame from anyone. It is important to feel heard and respected, for these are things which will help you to gain inner peace and healing.
