|
Past, Present Positive
The Cranston Herald, April 6, 2006 by Meri Kennedy
April is an important month to me, as well as to other survivors of sexual abuse and assault. Declared “Sexual Assault Awareness Month,” this time is set aside to promote awareness and education of the rising epidemic of abuse.
Abuse takes many forms ranging from stranger rape, date rape, mental and verbal abuse, and domestic violence. No matter the nature of the crime or what it is called, the lasting affects to the victim are deep. Trauma, re-occurring nightmares, guilt, shame and fear are all emotions intertwined, often rendering the victim more helpless even after the abuse or assault has stopped.
Abuse is about control. One person’s control of another. Whether it is a one-time assault or continuous, as in my own personal background, the results to the victim are devastating. It is not something a person can “get over” or “forget and move on.” Those words are so harsh and hurtful to someone who has been a victim of abuse. It is something that will continue to affect their interactions with others, their own perspective and their future decisions. Victims will often continue to self-doubt their decision-making process.
The full text of this article can be found at The Cranston Herald.
|
