Free hotlines for sexual assault and abuse in Delaware

Hotlines are available in Delaware, United States for the victims of sexual abuse, assault and harassment. It's free and confidential.

Sexual abuse is the use of coercion, force, or unequal positions to make you engage in any form of unwanted sexual activity. Anyone in Delaware, United States – women, men or children – can be a victim of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is a form of sexual violence, which includes sexual assault, such as rape or unwanted touching, and sexual harassment, which is unwelcome, intimidating 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 Delaware, United States if you face:

Examples of sexual violence:

• Being coerced, threatened or forced to perform any sort of sexual activity
• Being used sexually in a way that is humiliating
• Being forced or coerced to have sex without protection from sexually transmitted diseases
• Sexual photos or videos being posted online without your consent
• Experiencing an attempted rape or sodomy
• An organ or an object being put into your vagina (rape), or anus or mouth (sodomy), without your consent
• Being spoken to in a sexual way that you find offensive or degrading
• Catcalls and whistles that make you feel uncomfortable or objectified

Effects of sexual violence:

• An urge to use alcohol, drugs, or gamble excessively
• Feeling edgy and fearful, especially around people who resemble the abuser in any way
• Having flashbacks about the sexual abuse
• Losing trust in people in general
• Minimizing the abuse as not being as severe as someone else’s
• Engaging in self-harm or self-mutilation
• Having nightmares about the sexual abuse you experienced
• A decline in your physical and mental health

Everyone deals with sexual abuse, assault or harassment differently. You may find yourself trying to cope with it in a variety of ways. However, it is perfectly natural that it takes time to heal. It was a traumatic experience, and it might take a lot of support to recover.

Coping with the trauma of sexual violence can be even harder if you are trying to do it on your own. There is no right or wrong way to recover from the abuse. However, having someone to talk to in Delaware, United States can make the process easier.

If you feel like you might need support with your experience of sexual violence, try reaching out to a hotline in Delaware, United States. It's free and confidential.