Sexual abuse is a form sexual violence where a person uses power or coercion to force you into unwanted sexual activity. You can be a victim of sexual abuse if you are a woman, man or child. Other forms of sexual violence are sexual assault, such as rape, and sexual harassment, which is sexual behaviour toward you that is unwelcome or offensive.

If you are a victim of sexual violence, talking about your experience with people who understand can help you recover. Seek free help from 3 sexual abuse, assault and harassment hotlines in Washington, 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:

Feeling unsafe and scared that it would happen again
Feeling dirty, damaged, and broken
Losing trust in people in general
Feeling as if everyone could see what happened to you
Bursts of fear, anxiety, and panic
Having nightmares about the sexual abuse you experienced
Engaging in self-harm or self-mutilation
Feeling depressed and hopeless, with suicidal thoughts

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.

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 Washington, United States could help you feel less isolated.

If you are ready to talk to someone about your experience of sexual abuse, assault or harassment, you can contact a hotline in Washington, United States for free and confidential support.