Helplines in Portsmouth, England.

Have you experienced sexual abuse, assault or harassment? Get confidential support from a hotline in Portsmouth, England

Sexual abuse is when one person forces another person into sexual behavior, without that person's consent. It is a type of sexual violence, which is any sexual activity without consent. This includes sexual assault (such as unwanted touching or rape) and sexual harassment (unwelcome or offensive sexual behavior).

If you are a victim of sexual violence, talking about your experience with people who understand can help you recover. Seek free help from 1 sexual abuse, assault and harassment hotlines in Portsmouth, England if you face:

Examples of sexual violence:

• Someone making degrading or offensive comments about your body or sexuality, or using sexual terms and language in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable
• Being kissed or touched without your consent or being made, by coercion or force, to touch or kiss someone
• Being forced or coerced to have sex without protection from sexually transmitted diseases
• Being exposed to a violent, hurtful sexual act without your permission
• An organ or an object being put into your vagina (rape), or anus or mouth (sodomy), without your consent
• Being used sexually in a way that is humiliating
• Being filmed or photographed nude or in a sexually explicit way without your permission
• Catcalls and whistles that make you feel uncomfortable or objectified

Effects of sexual violence:

• A decline in your physical and mental health
• Minimizing the abuse as not being as severe as someone else’s
• Avoidance of anything that reminds you of the sexual abuse
• Feeling unsafe and scared that it would happen again
• Feeling dirty, damaged, and broken
• Having flashbacks about the sexual abuse
• Feeling overwhelmed with a range of emotions, like anger, fear, numbness
• Having nightmares about the sexual abuse you experienced

As a victim of sexual violence you could be feeling furious, desperate, revengeful, hopeless, and empty, all at the same time. This is a perfectly normal response to such a traumatizing event.

Surviving and recovering from sexual violence can be a very lonely process. Especially if you struggle with all the different thoughts and emotions that you’re having a hard time controlling. This is why reaching out to helpline staff in Portsmouth, England could help you feel less isolated.

Consider contacting a hotline in Portsmouth, England right away for free, private help with sexual abuse, assault and harassment