I'm so tired of people not understanding the impact of rape on women. Like, seriously tired. I've been dealing with the aftermath of my own rape for years, and it's exhausting.

I'm not going to speak for all victims, because everyone's experience is different. But I can speak for myself, and I'm going to.

It sucked. It still sucks. Rape ruins you. It takes away your sense of safety, your trust in others, your confidence. It leaves you with PTSD, anxiety, depression. It makes you feel like you're all alone, like no one understands what you're going through.

And you know what makes it even worse? When people blame you for it. When they call you a sl*t, or say you were asking for it. When they tell you that you're the one who ruined the family, just because you had the courage to speak out.

I remember being in high school, trying to navigate my PTSD while dealing with all the normal teenage drama. It was hard. So hard. I didn't know how to manage my flashbacks, my nightmares, my anxiety attacks. I felt like I was all alone, like no one understood what I was going through.

And the worst part is, people still don't get it. They still don't understand that rape is not just a physical act, but a psychological one as well. They don't understand that it's not just about the victim, but about the perpetrator too. They don't understand that it's a crime, not just a "mistake" or a "misunderstanding".

So, to all the people out there who think they understand what it's like to be a rape victim, let me tell you: you don't. You can't. Unless you've been through it yourself, you can't possibly understand the depth of pain, the complexity of emotions, the struggle to heal.

But what you can do is listen. Listen to our stories, listen to our struggles, listen to our voices. Believe us when we tell you what happened. Support us as we navigate the aftermath. Advocate for us when we can't advocate for ourselves.

Because, at the end of the day, that's what we need. We need people to understand, to listen, to believe. We need people to care.

#RapeSurvivor #PTSD #MeToo #BelieveSurvivors #SupportSurvivors #ListenToUs

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