I was sexually harassed for the first time today. Thoughts that have been running through my head.

[chervilant]

29. The fear and guilt can be a lifetime "sentence"

Last edited Thu Jan 1, 2015, 06:26 PM - Edit history (1)

for those of us who've been assaulted or harassed in childhood. Random, unrelated incidences can be triggers, and survivors often struggle with finding strategies that help mitigate such triggers. As an advocate for survivors, I've learned that focusing on the COURAGE inherent in SURVIVING is helpful.

I think it's important to realize that we are socialized to expect decent behavior in our social interactions. Reading about incidences of abuse or harassment is NOTHING LIKE the actual experience! Like some herein above, discounting harassment or victim-blaming becomes a defense against such harassment happening to them, at least without some sort of hypothetical "strong and courageous" counter-attack. Actual responses to harassment are as varied as the humans walking this planet. Assigning some moral value to any of the myriad possible responses is inappropriate.

As a fellow survivor, I admire your courage in sharing your experience. I hope you never again have to interact with this abuser.