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What to do if you have been abused

Often, after asking for help to deal with the abuse that you have suffered, there can be a time delay, until the help is available. Below are a few strategies that you can use, whilst waiting for professional support or therapy:
  • Keep a diary of your thoughts – this is one way of helping to relieve any pressure and negative thoughts which can often build up in one’s mind.
  • If you have a trusted friend, try and spend some time around them, with people that you feel comfortable with.
  • Exercise is another good way of relieving pressure and/ or negative thoughts or memories.
  • Do not down play what has happened to you – learn to place the blame exactly where it really belongs – with the perpetrator!!
  • Try to understand, whether it is through reading materials, speaking to a friend or writing in your journal how your trust was terribly abused.
  • Learn to understand and explore your interests or passions. Try to appreciate your talent and the things you are good at– often it can be difficult to embrace what gifts and talents you possess as the abuse can often leave you feeling less than worthless and totally useless believing you have no skills, talents or gifts etc.
  • Find a comfortable and quiet place to sit or be – where you won’t be disturbed, and take a couple of minutes to focus on your breathing, close your eyes, become aware of any tension in your body, and let that tension go with each out-breath from your diaphragm.
  • Imagine a place where you can feel calm. Imagine a peaceful and safe place. It may be a place you’ve been to before, somewhere you’ve dreamed about going to, somewhere you’ve seen a picture of, or just a peaceful place you can create in your mind’s eye, and just picture yourself there.
  • Be Kind to yourself.
  • Look after yourself, making sure you get enough sleep, eat well, talk well of yourself etc.
  • FORGIVE YOURSELF – this was not your fault – to be honest – it wasn’t even about you. The perpetrator knew exactly what they were doing and used every tactic to manipulate and groom you into thinking they were trust worthy.
  • Always remember you are the innocent party in all of this – no matter how your body may have physically responded.