What is Sexual Assault and How it Affects
Relationships/Marriages
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Genesis 50:20
Hello Beautiful:
My good friends Kil and Dr. Roz have a blog by the name of Marriage-Exposed that deals with issues plaguing our relationships and marriages. I have decided to share with you an article I wrote for the Marriage-Exposed in hopes that it will bless someone. Read on...
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual
assault is any sexual activity involving a person who does not or cannot (due
to alcohol, drugs, or some sort of incapacitation) agree or consent. According to the U.S. Department of Health
& Human Services, “sexual assault can be verbal, visual, or anything that
forces a person to take part in unwanted sexual contact or attention.” Sexual assault is somewhat of an umbrella
term, and can describe many things, including:
·
Rape,
including partner and marital (yes, you can be raped by your spouse)
·
Unwanted
sexual contact (touching or grabbing)
·
Unwelcome
exposure of another person’s body, exhibitionism, or voyeurism
·
Child
sex abuse
·
Incest
or molestation
·
Sexual
harassment
·
Sexual
exploitation of clients by therapists, doctors, dentist, or other professionals
(yes, this does happen too)
How does Sexual Assault affect
our relationships/marriages?
Sexual
Assault affects our relationships/marriages in many different ways. If you are the Survivor, you may feel
completely unsupported by your mate, who may not understand why it is “taking so long” for you to “get it together” and get back on track.
Partners may have many issues of their own that prevent them from being
supportive — such as deeply held beliefs that you may have attracted sexual
attention from another, guilt over not having been there to protect you, and
just a general sense of not understanding your pain and your healing journey.
You shouldn’t feel guilty or foolish if you feel emotionally disconnected from your partner or unhappy in the bedroom. It doesn’t mean that you don’t love your partner or that you are no longer a sexual being. Consider it a period of healing and growth in which you need to take things slow. You should be aware of some of the common fears and concerns that can haunt many victims of sexual assault. You may feel like:
·
You are damaged goods
·
You are not a real man (if you are a man
who was raped)
·
You can never enjoy sex again
·
You are afraid to be attractive and look
desirable
Ultimately, rebuilding a relationship after
you have been raped might be one of the most difficult things you will ever do,
but it can also transform your relationship in extraordinary ways if you and
your partner acknowledge the challenges and work to together to heal
yourselves, and the relationship. Your bond can become stronger than ever
before, and your connection with your partner will be more intimate and
powerful (I’m a witness!!!). Just make sure to keep the communication lines
open and turn to a therapist or counselor for help if you can.
Until we meet again, be encouraged and know
that your past does not define you. You
can pick up the pieces and move forward with your life.
Peace and blessings,
Phynyxx Skyy
Phynyxministries.org
References:
Dr. Laura Berman
Rainn.org
Pandy’s.org
No comments:
Post a Comment