Dealing with the Aftermath of Rape & Sexual Abuse: Beyond the Pale

The trauma of sexual violence doesn't end right after the incident.
Why is that so hard for some people to understand?

What happened will haunt us for a long time, and our coping is manifested in many different ways. Below you will find links for help and information on some of what is left after an attack or abuse.

If you are a rape or sexual abuse survivor, connecting with others who understand can be very helpful.

Consider joining Pandora's Aquarium, an online support group, message board, & chat room for rape and sexual abuse victims.

The message board and support forums provide help for many of the issues below,

including depression & PTSD, self-injury, addiction, and pregnancy by rape.

Suicide
if you are feeling suicidal right now and need help, please talk to someone you trust. Call a friend or RAINN (1-800-656-HOPE). If you can't do that, send me an email and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Please remember: we're all in this together. We need you.
Suicide: Read this First
Suicide Help
Befrienders International
An international directory for those who need to talk to someone about suicidality.

Eating Disorders
American Anorexia & Bulimia Association Philadelphia

Or AABAPHILA for short, this has resources such as support groups
Something Fishy Website
Signs and symptoms of eating disorders, Q&A's, medications, ED's in men, physical dangers, and heaps of other info on ED's. This site is wonderful.
National Eating Disorders
Tons of information

Self Injury
secret shame
self injury information and support
self injury
contains many suggestions on how to overcome the urge to self injure
SIARI
A UK based self-injury support group
Lysamena Project on Self-Injury
A Christian self-injury site that contains a lot of information both for self-injurers and for their family and friends.

Depression
Depression.com
mainly news and facts about depression and anti-depressants
Depression Resource Center
comprehensive resource to books on depression and related disorders
Wings of Madness: a depression guide
a wonderfully complete site on depression; includes a message board and chat forum

Dissociative Identity Disorder
Shattered Selves
Excellent resource by a multiple, including definitions, a message board, poems, and more
firewheel vortex
essays and personal glimpses on MPD

PTSD/Anxiety Disorders
Gift From Within
A wonderful organization - many worthwile PTSD articles.
Anxieties.com
A free internet self-help site for persons suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, OCD and PTSD
The Post-Traumatic Gazette
A newsletter providing a healing perspective for all trauma survivors, their families, friends and therapists
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
A guide to Rape Trauma Syndrome
PTSD: an overview

Pregnancy
Pregnant by Rape
part of the Rape Recovery Help and Information site
Pregnant after Rape and Wondering What to Do?
This article is by a survivor who had and kept her child, and offers support for all choices.

Addiction
Alcoholics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
She's in Recovery
Sexual Compulsives Anonymous

Back to Barbados...

For real-time help from other survivors, please join Pandora's Aquarium, an online support group, message board,

and chat room for rape, sexual abuse, and sexual assault victims.