To my sisters reexperiencing horrors this week.....

[Laurian]

I have felt ill all week and I attribute it to the triggering effects of the Kavanaugh revelations. My anxiety levels are through the roof and I can’t seem to concentrate on much.

I will not watch the hearings, but will check in periodically for updates.

My experience dates back to my freshman year in college, 50 years ago! I cannot image how women with more recent experiences are coping.

Stay strong and do what you need to do to get through this. There are so many of us. I’m beginning to think we are not the exception, but the rule as to how women have been treated. May that soon change.

[Siwsan]

2. There's no way I can watch.

I'm drowning in anxiety, as it is.

[MuseRider]

3. I am watching but it is not easy.

I have been sexually abused enough times to be triggered but I am also hotly angry over this and the anger is winning (thank god, it is so much easier to live with than the feelings of being triggered by what some creep, inhumane men did to me).

[calimary]

6. It's NOT easy.

I haven't had that experience that you've had. For which I'm grateful. But I have been on the verge of tears, listening to her, since this started.

[dlk]

4. I've Been Triggered Too & Am Here to Support You

This is a time for women to reach out and support each other

[Honeycombe8]

5. Yes, I've been re-experiencing several incidents that happened when I was young (I'm 60+).

I now realize that this has been an ongoing free-for-all thing by elite males, who have been getting away with this since began. And attacking the women who dare report it. And doing the vile deeds in private, so no witnesses.

We have seen over 50 women come forward about Bill Cosby, and STILL men will not believe them.

It's time this stops. It's time more and more women report these things. I did not, so I know why we don't. But only if women start reporting these incidents will the denigration of the women finally lessen and hopefully stop.

And VOTE more women and non-privileged men into office.

[SouthernLiberal]

8. Same here

I was sexually assaulted by family members in my childhood and teenage years.Nothing as bad as what happened to Dr. Ford,but with all this in the news... well, it does come back. The first time, I was in grade 4 or 5, and I wanted to tell. But my mother did not want to hear it.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

16. Many who were abused by a family member

But who were never able to speak out, even to this day, are in so much pain today.

Being re-traumatized all over again. Immobilized. Unable to think. Unable to eat. Unable to sleep. Unable to stop the tears. Alone and betrayed.

A mother's first and foremost responsibility is to protect her children. Not all mothers did. Some allowed their second husbands to assault and brutalize their child. Then refused to listen. Then expected too much from a 12 year old.

[flibbitygiblets]

7. Woke up this morning with a knot in my stomach. Old memories combined with current shitshow

I can't watch, just checking in periodically to see how it's going.

[HipChick]

9. Chest pains..horrible feeling in my stomach...

[flibbitygiblets]

14. Big hugs to you HipChick, and all women out there feeling sickened and re-injured

[zentrum]

10. Not watching or listening.

Same reason.

[Cal Carpenter]

11. I heard a few minutes of her testimony on her way into work

and lost my shit.

Like you, this is taking me back to my freshman year of college, when I was 17 years old. On top of a variety of other stressors I am dealing with right now, I can't face this, can't face the way I've blamed myself for 25 years...

Dr Ford shouldn't have to do this, to tell this story in front of the nation, confronted by the faces of the men who have perpetuated this treatment of girls and women, who have protected each other from even having to recognize how wrong it is, how damaging it is... But we need a reckoning as a society about this. And as individual women who have carried these nightmares with us for too long, we need to heal.

Thanks to Dr. Ford for forcing the nation to confront this.

And thanks for this post.

[KT2000]

12. thank goodness for DU

so we can learn what happened in the hearing without having to watch.

[recentevents]

13. It's been a rough week

[mahina]

15. Seconded, and for our brothers and others too.

Imua. (Onward)

[richo]

17. I had to step away

I was supposed to have the day off but after watching this morning I decided to go into work because I needed the distraction. In 27 years nothing triggered me like watching the attacks on Dr. Ford. Rough day for sure.