Healing

Sexual assault is an attack on body, mind, and spirit. Often your spirit is wounded even more profoundly than your body. When those wounds are not visible, it can be hard to understand why they are still painful during the weeks, months, or years after the assault. Recovery is a difficult process, however, healing is not only possible, it is unbelievably rewarding. Time, support, and talking with understanding people are essential aspects of the healing process.

You are never to blame for an assault against you regardless of the circumstances. Offenders prey on victims and shamelessly exploit any vulnerability and opportunity to attack.

These pages contain information about the healing process whether the assault happened yesterday or many years ago; by one or more perpetrators. You are uniquely capable of making your own best choices, and doing so is an important part of your healing.

Many sexual assault victims/survivors (females and males) share similar emotions and reactions to sexual assault regardless of the type of assault (e.g., acquaintance/stranger, violent/nonviolent). There is no timeline or formula for healing; your process is as unique as you are. There are, however, roadmaps that we can share with you that have proven to be useful. This list, compiled by the Trauma Recovery Groups in Iowa City lays out some of the common issues that victims/survivors face, as well as Judith Lewis Herman's Model for Healing.

Pages offered in the Healing Section discuss healing issues specific to various types of survivors: male survivors, child sexual abuse survivors, and adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

If you are a loved one (e.g., friend, partner, family member) of a sexual assault or abuse victim/survivor, the information in these pages may be helpful in understanding what your loved one is experiencing. There is also information on this site specifically for significant others,offering specific advice on ways in which you can support and aid in the healing process of your loved one.

To read Voices of Courage: Inspiration from Survivors of Sexual Assault, download the eBook.