Story of a Sexual Assault Survivor
SM: Besides the drinking, how else did it affect your everyday life?
Lindsay: I was scared all the time. I was taking an advanced photography class – I was a key holder for the darkroom, but I got to a point where I would take my pictures, but couldn’t go to the darkroom by myself. Instead of asking for help I just quit developing my pictures and took an F for the class. I lost part of my academic scholarship after that.
SM: Were you afraid that it was going to happen again?
Lindsay: I was. The guy who raped me went on to follow me around for years to come. I guess the appropriate term is stalking me.
SM: Did you ever confront him about raping you?
Lindsay: No, I didn’t. I did say something to one of his friends who I saw out. He came up to me and said “Hey you guys never hang out with us anymore,” and I was like, “Your friend raped me and I don’t want to hang out with him.” It took me by surprise that I was even brave enough to say that.
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Your comments
| fun_in_the_sun | |
| Lindsay's story is very inspiring. I wish more people could hear her story because I know of too many girls that don't tell anyone about being raped because they blame themselves. | |
| o0lilypad0o | |
| My heart goes out to Lindsay and all victims who read this. I was raped while in college as well, only difference being that it was a stranger who attacked me. All what you described, I endured. When I read this article, I cried. I never reported it, and, soon enough, I had isolated myself from the world I thought I knew, became depressed, had panic-attacks, messed around with all sorts of guys, my grades plummeted, took up alcohol and drugs as my coping mechanism, and had wandered away from family and friends who didn't quite get what changed in me but nevertheless wanted to support. Fortunately, my academic counselor recognized my potential, and, while she had no idea what had happened to me, advised that I seek therapy. It took my a long time to trust even my therapist, but ultimately I came out of the experience re-learning how to love my body and re-discover my self-worth. It is a battle, but the time and energy you put into the healing process will aid you immensely in re-connecting to the world. I, too, was terrified at the prospect of reporting the incident because I feared being judged. I encourage any victim of sexual assault to ask for help because you will help yourself recover sooner than you realize. As for me, I have taken part in a campus-sponsored mentoring program for young girls in the community, participate in V-Day productions, and am committed bringing light to this taboo phenomenon. | |
| bella -- ojai | |
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Lindsay, I sincerely admire your courage and strength to persevere and again become the "captain of your ship". Yours is an important story and I thank you and Savvymiss.com for sharing it with all of us. I wish that no one would ever have to think they did something wrong when they were the victim in such a terrible crime. I will be pulling for your continued success and for the success of all the innocent women who have suffered this horrible violation. |
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