đźš« What it means to have experienced sexual violence
Experiencing sexual violence meant that your body's autonomy was violated, creating a fractured relationship with intimacy, safety, and your own physical self that reverberates through every aspect of life.
You may have learned to disconnect from your body as a survival mechanism—freezing, dissociating, or mentally leaving during the violation. Your nervous system may have developed early warning systems that scan for potential threats others don't notice, while simultaneously creating blind spots where you might miss obvious red flags. The trauma distorted your earliest understanding of love, safety, and trust.
You may now find that your relationship with your body remains fractured—alternating between numbness and hypervigilance, never feeling fully at home in your own skin. Physical touch might require conscious permission even when wanted, and intimacy can trigger defensive reactions beyond your control. Your body's reactions aren't flaws; they're evidence of what you endured and the strength it took to survive.