Survivors.org defines trauma as both: Trauma is both a specific experience and our emotional experiences that arise after that event. Survivors often report that when they discuss their trauma, others may try to tell them that their experience wasn’t “bad enough” to be considered traumatic. In reality, trauma is personal. Something that may overwhelm one…
After experiencing sexual assault, or any form of trauma, it’s likely that you’ve heard conversations about healing from the traumatic event. But, what does it mean to heal from trauma, and what does it look like? What does it mean to heal from trauma? Everyone defines what it means to heal from trauma in their…
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder often developed after having a traumatic experience, including acts of sexual violence. Research estimates that one month after a sexual assault, 75% of people meet the criteria for PTSD. One year later, 41% of those survivors still meet the criteria for PTSD.1 PTSD is a diagnosis listed…
Isolation can be defined as the tendency to separate oneself from others. It is common for those who have experienced a traumatic event to isolate themselves afterward. Isolation is both a byproduct of trauma, as well as a contributing factor to it, which can create a cycle of isolation and exacerbate trauma symptoms. Social support…
How we react to disclosures of sexual assault significantly impacts a survivor’s healing process.1 58-94% of survivors seek informal support from a loved one.2 It’s important we learn how to respond to disclosures of sexual assault, as research shows that the way others respond to disclosure can have a great impact on a survivor’s mental…
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, which intends to bring attention to the unique struggles faced by minority groups. The black community has unique experiences compared to people from other racial and ethnic groups when it comes to healthcare, including mental healthcare. Sexual violence impacts black people in ways that are specific to their…
Being grounded refers to having a stable mental and emotional state, as well as being fully connected to the present. When someone is grounded, they have a sense of inner peace, calmness, and their fight-or-flight response is not activated. Someone in a grounded state has a better connection with their sense of self and has…
After sexual violence, many survivors experience a negative impact on their self-esteem. All of the feelings a survivor has after sexual assault are valid, meaning that they are not wrong for having these emotions, but that doesn’t mean their self-assessments are accurate. Survivors deserve to value themselves and their place in the world, and there…
Self-esteem can be described as an ongoing assessment of one’s sense of self and the value assigned to those perceptions. Self-esteem is based on perception. The value judgments people make about themselves may or may not be based in reality. Rather, a sense of self is shaped by the lens through which people see the…
Dissociation is a mental process that causes a disconnect between different cognitive processes such as one’s thoughts, feelings, sense of identity, memories, and consciousness. While statistics show that many people experience dissociation at some point in their lives, those who have experienced trauma dissociate at higher rates than those who have not. Research has found…
Join PAVE/Survivors.org Founder Angela Rose as she interviews Erin Merryn, pioneer of “Erin’s Law,” Antuan “Magic” Raimone, Broadway performer and speaker, and Shannon Bobo, comedian and actress, as they discuss how they have cultivated healthy love after experiencing sexual violence. Learn More About The Panelists Erin Merryn “After suffering years of sexual abuse for six…
When someone you love has PTSD, or any unresolved trauma, it’s understandable that you want to know how to support them. No one intrinsically knows exactly what their loved one will need when healing from trauma. The best thing you can do is to ask your loved one directly what they’d like to see from…
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