*Trigger Warning* Triggered my recent sexual assault allegations in parliament

[Chumptastic]

Hi, TRIGGER WARNING ⛔️

I haven’t been here since my last hospitalisation in august last year. Despite some ups and downs things recently have been good. Got a new job have moved into my friends place and I’m in the process of buying a house (scary).

but the latest allegations of sexual assault by a cabinet minister from a woman who suicided last year have sent me into a bit of a spin. Then I read a sex trafficking story and the parallels in that story resonated with what happened in my marriage. The divorce last year was a major reason for my hospitalisations.
I started to self harm again and that made me realise that I’m still very much not ok. I’m not seeing a psychologist as money has been tight and I haven’t found one that’s a good fit. My GP has been great but keeps referring me to my psychiatrist who is not so great at talking therapy.
idk do you ever get over the trauma of sexual assault? I don’t want to be seen as a victim. But I think not acknowledging my early experiences or sweeping it under the carpet of outward success was what led to a highly insidiously abusive marriage. It was hard to recognise it for that but now I finally see it for the manipulation that it was. I’ve finally realised what my GP was trying to say all along. That it doesn’t matter how life treats you. Good or bad it’s still the same s**t underneath. It’s been awhile since the urge to self harm has been here and I’m disappointed that it’s come back despite the good things that have happened. How do you ever move on? A lot of people don’t.

[Sophie_M]

Dear Chumplastic 

Thank you for having the courage to write this post. We are so sorry to hear about your past experiences of abuse and the negative impact that it is having on you now. We hope that posting on the forums, and the support that you receive on the forums, brings you some comfort. We're glad to hear that you're in regular contact with your GP and that they have been a great help. Finding a psychologist that is affordable and a good fit can be a tricky endeavour and we hope that you are able to find one that suits you soon as it sounds like you could really do with the extra support right now. We thought we'd provide you with some free, support options for the meantime: 

• 1800RESPECT: They offer 24/7 confidential information, counselling and support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. You can contact them on 1800 737 732 or visit  https://www.1800respect.org.au/
• Support groups: You can also find information on support groups is available on the Black Dog Institute site here - https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/support-groups/
• Crisis support: /In overwhelming moments, we encourage you to get in touch with Lifeline (13 11 14) or the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467).

Please do continue to post on here for support when you feel up to it. We're here to listen and support you. 

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Chumptastic..

Im sorry you were triggered by the news that you have seen/listened to...Moving on from sexual assault is hard yet possible...I also have been through sexual assault and married to a narcissistic man...I went from one bad situation to an even worse situation...

I think Psychiatrists are really only helpful for meds... My psychiatrist isn’t good at talk therapy and referred me to a psychologist...Who I think are more talk therapy involved..

I can go weeks or even months and feel okay..then something I read, hear or see..can take me down incredibly quickly....I think we can move on..but not 100%...The memories of trauma..can’t be washed out of our brain..We need to distract them anyway we can...music, reading, internet games etc..

Can you ask your Dr. for a Mental Health Care Plan?..That way you get..I think 10 free psychology visits for 12 months...

You, me and other people of sexual assault are survivors.. At one time yes we were the victim....but we got up and we now try our best each day to be a stronger person..stronger then our abusers...by living the best life we can.....by doing that we are survivors and we are not letting the abuser win by taking away any more of our precious time...

Im sorry you started to self harm again...I hope you are okay...

Please use those numbers that Sophie has given you if you get overwhelmed and need support..I have used a couple and they are very helpful and understanding...

Talk here when you feel up to it.,,We are here to try to support you the best we can...

My kindest thoughts..

Grandy...

[geoff]

Hello Chumptastic, thanks for coming back and very sorry for how you are feeling.

Sophie_M has provided some good links and as Grandy has said, I agree with her, simply because I've found that psychiatrists provide medication, but they never answered any questions I asked them and were more impersonal than how a psychologist treats you, others may disagree and are entitled to do so.

I had to see the top psychiatrist in Vic, supposedly, but I might as well be somewhere else, while the psychologist I had seen for a long time and more personal in helping me.

ReachOut.com 'au.Reachout.com' can provide you with help in regards to this type of assault and the answer to your question, 'do you ever get over the trauma of sexual assault', well that's not easy to answer, it depends on who you are able to move forward with, but the recollection may take time to heal, but you can't do this by yourself, you need a compassionate counsellor to open up to, and it's going to be very difficult for you, I'm so sorry.

There will be triggers you need to be aware of to slowly build up the strength you need, this is what a psychologist will have to concentrate on.

We are here to help you along in this journey, so we can help build up the courage you have shown today.

Hope to hear back from you.

Geoff.

[Imarni]

I am having the same problem because she is my age.

I was sexually abused in a mental hospital same decade as the woman your speaking of and I am trying to deal with hearing the m/health royal commission report which I feel I have having a similar triggering response to you. It’s very hard. I heard about the girl tonight and feel very upset. The public stories are a nightmare for survivors, particularly if we have been to court and know the law is usually on the perps side. I keep trying to stay grounded and distract myself. But lots of tears today. I will watch this thread and hope some useful advice for you.