Sexual harassment but 'only verbal'. Am struggling but think I'm overreacting :-(

[2004pickle]

A few years ago whilst studying full time on a post graduate course I was bullied by a couple of other students, both older men. They made a lot of sexually inappropriate comments and innuendos and once I was grabbed. The comments were repulsive and very explicit using language that still makes me feel sick. They also talked about masturbating whilst thinking of me but did it in a way which made me feel dirty and asked if I thought about them too. I reported it twice and they were 'told off' and forced to apologise the some of the comments were so horrible I couldn't bring myself to tell my tutor and have told no one except my husband.
Now I still feel violated by their words and it has come up in therapy (for ptsd from an unrelated event). Am I wrong to feel violated by words? I have even struggled during sex since as sometimes I picture them and it's disgusting as I can't get them (particularly the worst man) out of my head. Am I overreacting? How do I move on?

What does your therapist say?

No you're not over reacting, what they did was totally awful and some things do stick with you even if they are 'just words'.

The unrelated trauma I suffered has left me struggling with shame and self doubt and I guess this period of bullying left me feeling similar. I haven't discussed it in detail with my therapist yet as it's onlg come up this week. I think I know deep down I'm not overreacting but at the time the men said I was and so I doubt myself. I've had dreams about it recently too. Thanks for replying. I feel so dirty sometimes.

One of them works with adults now in a caring profession which makes me feel sick. It was a professional course and I did the right thing reporting them at the time but feel guilty he they still passed the course and may do the same to others.

Every triggering act of sexual violence that has happened to me has not been physical but it doesn't mean that what happened to me was not horrific.

I'm sorry this happened to you. It wasnt your fault and you didn't deserve it. I hope you are able to talk to your therapist about it.

Ultimately your aggressors will continue to live their lives free of punishment. You reported it and people did not do anything about it. You were let down. I dont know if there is any way to address this with their employers or if there is a professional body who oversees their work but it could be the case that even if you did that, nothing will happen. You have done what you can, now concentrate on you.

Good luck with everything, you sound strong but make sure you access all the help you need.

I've been a paramedic for nearly 15 years. In that time I've been physically assaulted twice, both times I was targeted because I'm a women, so not very nice, but unfortunately part of the job and neither incidents upset me for long.

However, years ago I was transporting a drug addict to hospital along with his friend. The friend started trying to chat me up, which I ignored, he then escalated to inappropriate comments, when I didn't react he started taking photos and videos on his phone and sending them to his friends/ social media telling his friends "what he wanted to do to me". Due to a temporary contraflow and roadworks in place at the time we weren't in a position to stop and kick him out of the vehicle so I was trapped in the back with him for what seemed like an eternity.

This was around 10 years ago and it still upsets me. When I read on the news about the Warwick university case it brought it all back, with me wondering what this guy and his friends have posted on social media about me, and what's potentially still on there now.

OP you response and upset is perfectly normal, these men are masters at subtle (and not so subtle) intimidation and abuse.