TW rape and sexual assault

[OneAvidAmberLion]

I need help. I'm not dealing with this well. I don't know how I'm actually meant to be handling things.

Please can you tell me what helped you most with recovery.

Rape Crisis's online chat has been useful, but I can only use that occasionally and I'm just going over the same things. I need to move forward as I feel totally stuck and I'm sick of the impact this is having on my life.

For me it was finally facing it after years of denial that it happened. Accepting that it was that bad, and all the little things I said in my brain to make it better and make it go away weren’t true. I wasn’t a liar. It was real. Looking at it truthfully and accepting that it was horrendous and I was allowed to take time to heal. Then it was gradual from there.

Thank you. I'm on the verge of acceptance, I think. Some days I do accept events, others I don't. I think I'll get there and, like you said, it should help me.

I had talking therapy with a charity for SA and rape survivors and after 6 months they offered me hypnotherapy. It absolutely changed my life

That sounds helpful. I like the idea of hypnotherapy. I did phone the sexual assault referral centre and they said they are too busy so only help people who've involved the police. They gave me another number who gave me another number which is never answered. It feels pointless.

Free counselling over zoom with rape crisis. Then EMDR privately.

I’m a psychotherapist.
im so sorry this happened to you.
just know there is nothing you could’ve done and this is not your fault. Ever.
please refer to your local talking therapies services via GP. They may be able to offer you counselling/CBT to help you.
support groups and rape crisis services definitely engage.
im glad you feel on the road to acceptance x