Self Care After Assault
In the wake of all of the sexual assault allegations in the media, survivors may find themselves re-traumatized or triggered; I know that I, as a survivor, have felt this way. I have also felt overwhelmed and hopeless. Though it is my hope that all of the suffering that is being brought to light results in a newfound intolerance for perpetrators of assault, it is impossible for me not to be affected.
Because of this, I want to provide some resources and ways that survivors can take care of themselves now and in the future.
Teen Vogue recommends that survivors take care of themselves physically by trying to get enough sleep and eating healthy and comforting foods. They also suggest trying to find a creative outlet for your emotions, be it writing, painting, singing, or something else.
Teen Vogue also emphasizes that it is okay to remove yourself from a triggering situation if you can. Especially in an academic environment, which is also not necessarily supportive of giving trigger warnings, it can be very difficult to give yourself permission to disengage if and when you can. We all have different levels of comfortability engaging with triggering issues, and it is okay to leave a class or a conversation if you need to.
Buzzfeed also recently compiled a list of self-care tips provided by survivors for other survivors. The list includes things like taking a kickboxing class, petting animals, and avoiding the news for a while. Though it may be hard for those of us who like to be hyper-informed to follow the last suggestion, sometimes taking a break from the news is what you might need.
Finally, if you need support around sexual assault, current or past, on campus, here is the link to the Middlebury College sexual violence resources and information page. This includes links for contacting the Title IX officer Susan Ritter, scheduling a counseling appointment at Parton, and also how to support someone you know who is a survivor.
I hope you can all take care of yourselves in this difficult time.