After Sexual Assault: Navigating Dating and Intimacy
Experiencing sexual violence can be physically and emotionally tolling. You might feel isolated, ashamed or scared. Trusting someone else or being vulnerable again may feel challenging. Intimacy after having gone through a traumatic event can feel impossible but it isn’t. It can, however, take time and patience to become trusting once again. As April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, comes to a close, I wanted to highlight an important part of healing after experiencing sexual violence. I’ve come across information about what to do immediately after sexual assault but not as much about re-entering the world of dating, relationships and sex . In this article, I’ll share some tips for those who wish to start dating or be intimate—sexually or otherwise—after experiencing sexual violence. Be Patient With Yourself After sexual violence, you may not be ready to date or be sexually active for a while and you may feel frustrated. But give yourself time. Instead of