1) Hannah’s poster: I told.
“When I was eleven, I was sexually abused. I told my mom as soon as it happened, and we pressed charges against my abuser. My mom took me to speak to police detectives, and she testified for me in court. After being sexually abused I went through a period of time where I was uncomfortable with my body, and wore baggy clothes. There were times where it has been hard for me to be intimate with another person, but because the abuse had not been repressed, I was able to start healing from it soon after it happened. Having been sexually abused, -while unfortunate and something I wouldn’t wish on anyone- has made me part of who I am today. But I know that I would not have been able to move on from there if I had not told.”
Vivian’s poster: I didn’t know I could tell.
Vivian was sexually abused as a child, but didn’t realize she had the right or ability to tell, and she actually blanked it out so she didnt even remember the abuse. It was 10 years before she remembered and disclosed that she had been molested repeatedly over 2 or 3 years. She suffered a lot during those years, without knowing what made her act out. Finally when she was 25, it all came back to her and her healing journey could begin. Vivian became a social worker who worked with kids who were sexually abused for many years. She also teaches new social workers to work with sexual abuse issues.
She had her daughter, Hannah. Hannah was sexually abused at age eleven.
“You have every choice to use your voice.” Check out the Project Unbreakable blog, which encourages survivors of sexual violence to speak out as part of their healing process.
Trigger Warning: Project Unbreakable addresses true stories of sexual assault and abuse. Keep that in mind before you click through.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, there is help. Talk to someone — a friend or someone else you trust. Or contact, RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, an anonymous chat, text and phone helpline.
