It’s now OK to not believe Survivors
*Trigger Warning* mentions of rape, sexual assault, gaslighting, abuse, eating disorders, self-harm, sui, PTSD, mental illness
Survivors, this article is not for you. This is for all these people who don’t believe us because they say we’re not “credible”. It is highly triggering.
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This is what happens when a survivor has a trauma response to your words or actions, otherwise known as being “triggered”. Any and all of these things (and more) can happen:
Stress hormones flood their body so they have a fight or flight or freeze response. This means that they are experiencing the feelings they experienced when they were assaulted, but you’re so oblivious that you don’t realize you just made them feel like their sexual assaulter made them feel.
They might shake and tremble.
They might have flashbacks.
They might weep.
They might feel the sensations of their sexual assaulter on their body.
