''To not have your suffering recognized is an almost unbearable form of violence'' Andrei Lankov
Due to the recent sexual assault scandals, many people have been able to find their voices and narrate their rape experiences, making it their first move towards getting healed and better.
Many lucky ones are however thanking their stars for not having fallen victims of rape but I'd like to burst our bubbles.. Just a little.
Rape goes beyond forced sexual contact. Many of us are victims of rape. Rape in the sense of being controlled by other people just for their selfish gains of feeling better by actually being lords over others.
And just like sexual rape victims who belong to two extreme positions; either being withdrawn, men-hater or being on the promiscuous side; victims of emotional rape also suffer adverse situations like extreme low self-esteem or extremely full of pride and egoism.
You might have been emotionally assaulted if you have experienced/are still experiencing most of these things;
Have you at one time or the other been constantly lied against by the same person(s)?
Did u at any time feel like you were being constantly made a bad example of and as a result of this, people became wary of you thereby making you feel lonely and isolated? This may be in a form of public humiliation whereby you are verbally downgraded.
In your growing up years or presently, did you ever feel some particular people treated you with utter disdain even without uttering any word to affirm this?
Are you in a relationship where you don't know where you stand with your partner due to the fact that (s)he is giving you mixed and confused signals (friendly today and hostile tomorrow)?
Do you find yourself constantly being criticized by your partner with your insecurities being intentionally made fun of?
Do you constantly find yourself apologising to your partner for the things you never did due to them guilty tripping you?
Do you find yourself questioning everything you know to be true about yourself and your character?
Do you have sleepless nights trying to figure out what you did to deserve your partner and friends' tearing down attitudes?
If you reflectively and truthfully said yes to most of these questions, then may i be bold to put it to you that you have invisible wounds that need to get treated immediately. And now that you have it recognized, it is high time you got it treated by joining the people clamouring #SayNotoRape# through getting out of toxic relationships and surrounding yourself with people who make you feel treasured and special.
