- You are not unique. Millions of women and men in the USA and in other countries have been sexually abused. However, societies often label sexual abuse as taboo and so survivors often feel isolated.
- The sexual abuse was not your fault and you have no need to feel guilty.
- You have the right to know about how the chronic stress of sexual abuse can affect your mind and body and, if left untreated, what effects this can have on your overall health in the future.
- You have the right to understand that feelings of anger and fear will lead to increasing stress hormones and decreasing immune function, which can open the door for disease. This allows the effects of the abuse to continue hurting you, even though this may have occurred years ago.
- You have the right to tell someone about your abuse. This helps to lessen the burden of carrying your secret.
- You have the right to learn how to love yourself, to accept yourself for who you are, and to develop a healthy and positive self-image.
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