Regardless of whether you're a woman, man or child in Sweden, if someone has used coercion, power or force to make you engage in unwanted sexual activity, you were a victim of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is a form of sexual violence, which is any sexual activity without consent. Other forms of sexual violence are sexual assault, such as rape and unwanted touching, and sexual harassment, which is unwelcome 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 7 sexual abuse, assault and harassment hotlines in Sweden if you face:

Examples of sexual violence:

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
Being coerced, threatened or forced to perform any sort of sexual activity
Being spoken to in a sexual way that you find offensive or degrading
Repeated unwanted sexual attention or advances, including in your workplace or by your employer
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
Experiencing an attempted rape or sodomy

Effects of sexual violence:

Feeling as if everyone could see what happened to you
Engaging in self-harm or self-mutilation
An urge to use alcohol, drugs, or gamble excessively
Feeling unsafe and scared that it would happen again
A decline in your physical and mental health
Not being able to fall or stay asleep
Feeling overwhelmed with a range of emotions, like anger, fear, numbness
Changes (either loss or increase) in your appetite

If you have experienced sexual violence, your emotions and thoughts are likely to change all the time in an attempt to make sense of what happened to you. It can be confusing trying to figure it out all on your own.

After surviving sexual violence, you might believe no one will understand your feelings. However, there are people in Sweden who will give their best to understand you. Speaking freely about what you experienced could help you heal faster.

If you are victim of sexual abuse, assault or harassment, consider contacting a helpline in Sweden for free, confidential help.