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Sexual Violence, Rape, & Sexual Abuse
Articles & Essays
Volunteers and members of Pandora's Aquarium have written and collected a number of articles for rape and sexual abuse survivors and their supporters. These articles are about rape, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse, as well as issues that survivors struggle with, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and eating disorders. We hope you will find these articles helpful in your healing.
Unless otherwise stated, the articles below are copyrighted by Pandora's Project. Feel free to print a copy for your own use. However, you may not publish, either online or in print, these articles without express permission from Pandora's Project. If you would like to reprint one of these articles in a way that benefits rape and sexual abuse survivors or those who work with them, please contact us to request permission.
If you were a victim of rape, sexual assault, or sexual abuse and want to share your survivor story or get support from other survivors, consider joining the online support group, message board, and chat room.
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Rape & Sexual Assault | Child Sexual Abuse | Relationship Violence | Self-Care after Sexual Violence
Recovering from Trauma | Volunteering & Activism | Secondary Survivors (Friends and Family) | Stalking
Relationships, Sex & Intimacy | Parenting after Rape and Sexual Abuse | LGBT Issues | Legal Action
Self-Injury | Eating Disorders | Misc. & General
Rape & Sexual Assault
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| What to Do If You Have Been Raped | Tips on what to do after rape or sexual assault. | HTML | PDF |
| Was it My Fault? Self-Blame & Survivors |
Rape and sexual abuse victims often blame themselves. Please know that it was not your fault |
HTML | PDF |
| Rape & Pregnancy | If you are pregnant after rape, you are not alone. | HTML | PDF |
| Grey Area Rape | Is there any such thing as "grey area" rape? | HTML | PDF |
| For Survivors of Gang Rape | Gang rape is more common than many think. | HTML | PDF |
| Real Rape | What nobody's telling you | HTML | PDF |
| Losing Your Virginity to Rape | What does it mean if rape was your first sexual experience? | HTML | PDF |
| Rape by a Member of Law Enforcement | What if your perpetrator was a police officer? | HTML | PDF |
| Surviving Oral Rape | Being forced to give or receive oral sex can be part of rape | HTML | PDF |
| Male Rape & Assault | Dispelling the myths about rape and assault of men. | HTML | PDF |
| Drug-Facilitated Rape & Sexual Assault | How to protect yourself from drug-related rape. | HTML | PDF |
| Aquaintance Rape: A Matter of Consent | From A Gift Within (external link) | HTML (link) |
| An Open Letter to Teenage Girl Survivors of Sexual Assault |
A moving affirmation from a survivor to other survivors, and those who care for them. | HTML | PDF |
| Breaking Down Fears of Groups | Survivors assaulted by somebody of a certain gender, ethnicity or other group can remain afraid. This article gives strategies for dealing. | HTML | PDF |
| Sexual Assault Involving Forced Animal Contact |
If you have experienced this extremely dehumanising form of sexual assault, you are not alone. And you can heal. | HTML | PDF |
| Healing from sexual assault when you have a disability | A survivor shares her experience, challenges and encouragment | HTML | PDF |
For a Victim of Rape, Silence is No Benefit |
Donna L. Potts shares her experience of rape by a collge professor, tthe attempts by her university to silence her, and her healing. | HTML | PDF |
Child Sexual Abuse
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding Why You Didn't "Tell" | Please don't blame yourself for not disclosing as a child | HTML | PDF |
| Memories & Abuse | Combatting False Memory Syndrome | HTML | PDF |
| Revictimization | When survivors of child sexual abuse are hurt as adults | HTML | PDF |
| Child Sexual Abuse and the "Grooming" Process | Help understanding the way an abuser grooms a child for sexual abuse | HTML | PDF |
| Sibling Sexual Abuse & Incest During Childhood | Information and recovery tips for those abused by brothers, sisters, or step-siblings as a child. | HTML | PDF |
| Healing your Inner Child as a Survivor of Sexual Abuse | Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often have conflicting feelings about the child they were during the abuse. | HTML | PDF |
| Why Child Sexual Abuse Can NEVER Be Your Fault | Many survivors blame themselves for CSA. This article explains why it is not the child's fault. | HTML | PDF |
| Eight Myths about Child Sexual Abuse | From The Leadership Council (external link) | HTML (link) |
| Adult Survivors Continuing Relationships with Abusive Family |
Why would survivors do this? For many reasons. | HTML | PDF |
| Older People Surviving Child Sexual Abuse | Longer-term impact of child sexual abuse, what can trigger it and how to get support. | HTML | PDF |
| Child Rape: For Survivors and Interested Others | Were you raped as a child? This article will give you validation and hints for healing. | HTML | PDF |
Relationship Violence
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| For Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Rape |
Helpful information on intimate partner rape | HTML | PDF |
| An Overview of Partner Rape | Basic information on relationship violence | HTML | PDF |
| Effects of Intimate Partner Sexual Violence | This article covers short- and long-term effects | HTML | PDF |
| BDSM Lifestyle and Domestic Violence | The difference between the two | HTML | PDF |
| Domestic Violence in Lesbian Relationships | Abuse can occur in same-sex relationships, too | HTML | PDF |
| The Hidden Side of Domestic Abuse | Men abused in intimate relationships | HTML | PDF |
| Falling into a Crevasse within the Crack: My Experience with IPSV | One woman's story of intimate partner sexual assault. Partner rape does not always involve physical batter. | HTML | PDF |
Caring for Yourself After Sexual Violence
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Finding a Therapist | Tips for selecting a therapist and beginning sessions. | HTML | PDF |
| Sexual Violence & Grief | Will the pain ever end? | HTML | PDF |
| Confronting Your Abuser | Should you confront your perpetrator, physically or mentally? | HTML | PDF |
| Grounding | Coping with stressful periods in your life | HTML | PDF |
| The Importance of Self-Care | A few suggestions for how to take care of yourself as you heal from violence | HTML | PDF |
| Secondary Wounding | Identifying and overcoming hurt from others. | HTML | PDF |
| Making the Decision to Get Help | What are your options when you decide to get support? | HTML | PDF |
| Ten Steps to Fostering Gentleness & Compassion in Yourself |
How to care for yourself as you heal. | HTML | PDF |
| Be Gentle with Your Pain | Alternatives for those who are hurting | HTML | PDF |
| Coping with Anniversaries | The anniversary of your rape does not have to be traumatic | HTML | PDF |
| Countering Self-Blame | You are not at fault for someone else's actions! | HTML | PDF |
| If you are Healing from Sexual Assault, Read this Every Morning | A daily affirmation for survivors of rape, sexual abuse, and any type of sexual assault | HTML | PDF |
| Having to See Your Abuser | How to cope with having to see the person who abused you, and one survivor's story. | HTML | PDF |
| Facebook and Survivor Issues | Safety tips for survivors who use social networking | HTML | PDF |
| Surgery Coping Tips for Rape and Sexual Abuse Survivors | Having surgery can be intimidating for a survivor. This article has tips on how to cope. | HTML | PDF |
Recovering from Trauma
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Accepting our Broken Bits: Never "Over It" But Still Healing | For some survivors, healing can mean accepting that they will never be "over" what happened to them | HTML | PDF |
| Panic Attacks & PTSD | The personal account of an abuse survivor's journey | HTML | PDF |
| PTSD and a Sense of Foreshortened Future | If you have experienced trauma, you may expect more of the same. A helpful article by Lorne Cansler (external link) | HTML (link) |
| Dealing with Triggers | Triggers can be hard to cope with; here are some tips. | HTML | PDF |
| Common Responses to Trauma | How you might react to sexual trauma, and how to cope. | HTML | PDF |
| Reduction of Trauma-Based Maladaptive Behavior | What one survivor has learned about recovery from trauma | HTML | PDF |
| A Recovery Bill of Rights for Trauma Survivors |
Within your life and in therapy | HTML | PDF |
| The Invisible Epidemic | Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Memory & the Brain | HTML | PDF |
| PTSD & Art Therapy | How art can help with the effects of post-traumatic stress | HTML | PDF |
| Managing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and School |
Tips for survivors of sexual violence coping with PTSD as they go to school. | HTML | PDF |
| Dealing with Negativity and Learning to Counter Negative Thoughts |
Survivors may feel negative about themselves, other people, or their healing. This article gives coping tips. | HTML | PDF |
| EMDR | EMDR can be an excellent treatment for the trauma of sexual assault. | HTML | PDF |
Volunteering & Activism
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking Out: The Benefits to Survivors of Sexual Assault | Read this article if you are considering speaking out about rape or sexual abuse | HTML | PDF |
| Volunteering for a Rape Support / Activist Organization | The benefits of volunteering, and one survivor's story | HTML | PDF |
Secondary Survivors (Partners, Family & Friends)
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Tips for Partners, Friends & Family of Survivors | How to help someone heal from sexual violence: what to say and do | HTML | PDF |
| Self-Care While Supporting a Survivors | Supporters need to take care of themselves, too | HTML | PDF |
| Helping a Survivor Heal Sexually | Regaining intimacy after sexual violence | HTML | PDF |
Stalking
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Stalking: Facts & Resources | Facts, causes, and what you should do if you are stalked. | HTML | PDF |
| Coping with Stalking & Repeated Rape | Recognize the signs, take action, & more | HTML | PDF |
| Stalking: A Handbook for Victims [pdf] | By Emily Spence-Diehl (external link) | PDF (link) |
| Organized Stalking: A Target's View [pdf] | By Eleanor White (external link) | PDF (link) |
Relationships, Sex & Intimacy
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Reclaiming your Sexuality | Sexual healing after violence | HTML | PDF |
| Coping with STIs as a Result of Sexual Violence | Having an infection after rape can add additional trauma to the healing process | HTML | PDF |
| Feeling Guilty About Wanting Sex | You can reclaim your sexuality after violence | HTML | PDF |
| Sexual Arousal & Sexual Assault | It's not your fault if your body reacted to the assault | HTML | PDF |
| Overcoming the Fear of Saying "No" | Forming healthy sexual boundaries after rape | HTML | PDF |
| Dealing with Rape Fantasies | Tips for rape and sexual abuse survivors coping with sexual fantasies about rape and abuse | HTML | PDF |
| Low Self-Esteem & Relationships: How to Reclaim Yourself |
Rape and sexual abuse can change how you view yourself. Learn tips to cultivate healthy relationships. | HTML | PDF |
| BDSM and Survivor Healing |
BDSM can be therapeutic for survivors in the lifestyle | HTML | PDF |
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Some Tips on How to Protect your Child from Sexual Abuse | Comprehensive article with helpful tips for parents on how to prevent child sexual abuse. | HTML | PDF |
| Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Parenting as a Survivor | Helpful tips for rape and child sexual abuse survivors as they enter a new phase of life: parenthood | HTML | PDF |
| Breast-feeding your Baby as a Rape or Sexual Abuse Survivor | Support for survivors on breast-feeding: choosing to do it, and coping with issues it might bring up. | HTML | PDF |
| Survivors who give birth may have special issues. Read this article by doula and survivor Katie Wise | HTML | PDF |
LGBT Issues
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Coming Out to Family & Friends as GLBT | Helpful tips if you decide to come out | HTML | PDF |
| The Problem with the Belief that Child Sexual Abuse 'Causes' Homosexuality | Is there a connection between abuse and sexuality? | HTML | PDF |
| Dealing with Rape as a "Hate Crime" within the Lesbian Community | How women can cope with rape perpetrated against them as part of a hate crime. | HTML | PDF |
Legal Action
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Information | Rape Kit and Evidence Collection Procedures | HTML | PDF |
| Reporting a Rape | Helpful tips if you decide to go to law enforcement | HTML | PDF |
| Testifying | Information on appearing as a witness | HTML | PDF |
| Deciding to Pursue Legal Action | Weighing options to make the right choice for you | HTML | PDF |
| Writing a Victim Impact Statement | Tips for rape and sexual abuse survivors | HTML | PDF |
| Surviving Jury Duty: Tips for Rape & Sexual Abuse Survivors | Being called for jury duty can be stressful for survivors. Tips on what to expect and how to cope. | HTML | PDF |
Self-Injury
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding Why You Self-Harm | Understanding why can help you stop | HTML | PDF |
| Learning to Live without Self-Harm | You CAN give up self-injury | HTML | PDF |
| Relapsing | What to do if you relapse after quitting self-injury | HTML | PDF |
| What Actually is Considered Self-Injury? | Definitions of self-harm | HTML | PDF |
| Disclosing Self-Injury: Tips for Sexual Violence Survivors | Are you considering telling someone about self-harm? Read this article first. | HTML | PDF |
Eating Disorders
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Eating Disorder Definitions | Define anorexia, bulimia, & other EDs | HTML | PDF |
| Eating Disorder Signs & Symptoms | How to recognize if you have an ED | HTML | PDF |
| Physical and Medical Complications | Complications arising from EDs | HTML | PDF |
| A Guide For Parents and Loved Ones | For friends & family of those with eating disorders | HTML | PDF |
Misc. & General Articles
| Title | Summary | Format |
|---|---|---|
| The Myth of Women's False Accusations of Domestic Violence and Rape and Misuse of Protection Orders | Michael Flood's Factsheet | HTML (link) |
| False Accusations of Rape | By Jim Hines (external link) | HTML (link) |
| Is it Wrong to Be a "Victim"? | By Dr. Frank Ochberg (external link) | HTML (link) |
| Suicide Risk Factors | Factors to watch for if you're concerned about suicide | HTML | PDF |
| My Journey From R.A.D. Student to R.A.D. Instructor |
Empowerment through self-defense | HTML | PDF |
Turn your wounds into wisdom.
- Oprah Winfrey
