Sexual Assault Hotline offers help 24/7

The National Sexual Assault Hotline is sponsored by the Rape Abuse Incest National Network. It provides crisis help and information 24 hours a day 7 days a week. There is no cost to call the hotline. All calls are free and confidential.

The problem is that not everyone knows about it. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We're doing our part to support victims of sexual violence by telling everyone that we know about the hotline. You can help us by sending the status update below to your friends.

Here's the status update to tell your friend that help is as close as the phone.

April 12, 2011

Do you or a need friend help? National Sexual Assault Hotline 1.800.656.HOPE  #RAINN, #SAAM

Sexual assault survivors share recovery tips

Too often, survivors of sexual assault feel locked in and alone with their feelings. In the aloneness, it's hard to know where to turn or what to do. It can seem like everyone has questions but no one has answers.

When it comes to recovery, there are people who have a few of the answer. To give others hope, survivors are sharing their favorite recovery tips. The road is hard and long but the reality is that no one has to feel alone. 

The survivors who spoke out to put this information together want you to know that. You can heal. 

Stand beside sexual assault survivors. Join in telling the world that recovery from sexual violence is possible. Please the update you see below to your Facebook page or send it out via Twitter. 

April 11, 2011

Rape Victim Recovery Tips from Sexual Assault Survivors give others hope. http://bit.ly/fnFheU #SAAM 

Every 2 minutes someone is sexually assaulted

This is one of the ugliest statistics yet. According to the Rape Abuse Incest National Network someone in the United States is sexually assaulted every 2 minutes. Think about it. Do the math. There are 60 minutes in an hour, 1440 in 24 hours.

Why do we have such a high number for something so preventable? No + no = no. It's a simple equation.

You can make a difference by spreading the word. Send the message that sexual assault it not ok. The social media status update for today is listed below. Copy and paste it to your Facebook page or social media site. Send it out on Twitter. Post it to Digg, StumbleUpon or Yahoo Buzz.

Do it all, because by the time you finish reading blog article another 2 minutes may be up.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Social Media Speakout

Status Update 

April 10, 2011

Somewhere in the U.S. someone is sexually assaulted every 2 minutes. No one deserves to be raped. #RAINN #SAAM

Rape Victim Recovery Tips from Sexual Assault Survivors

Rape recovery is hard but it can be done and it isn't your fault. These tips have been submitted by survivors in the hopes of helping other rape victims become survivors and find healing. Please feel free to add your own ideas in the comments section of this article. You can use the Share button below to tell your friends about these recovery tips.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivors #1

Keep a diary to help you identify flashback triggers. This is the first step in resolving them.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #2

If you have nightmares get someone in your home to help you. If you live alone buy a stuffed animal or other comfort object to serve as a reminder that you are safe. Getting a pet may also help.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #3

Redirect your dreams. It takes awhile to get the hang of it but it works. When you lie down to go to sleep tell yourself that if you experience a nightmare you are going to turn it around. It takes a lot of work, but several people have told me it works for them.

 If you feel like you are more secure with a stuffed animal go ahead! Is it really going to matter to anyone else if you have a teddy bear on your bed? It is you who needs to heal. If it helps you feel better to do this then do it. If you are afraid to go into a store and buy one for yourself then tell yourself it is part of taking care of that scared part inside of you. Because that is exactly what you are doing.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #4

Support. Support. Support.Find some. If you do not have anyone to sort your feelings out with or if you want to do it without face to face contact there is an online email support group. We are not professionals. We have simply been there too. Email me if you need the information on this group.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #5

 Cry or scream into a towel or pillow.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #6

 You have an opportunity to do something new. You may experience anger and deep frustration. THIS IS NORMAL. I have known of people taking voice lessons, learn to play a musical instrument, begin karate or any number of things. What matters is that it gives you time to heal and use some of your anger.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #7

 Take 5. Take 5 minutes everyday and just be nice to yourself. You may be thinking how can I do that??? It isn't so difficult. Next time you are in stalled traffic pop in a soothing tape (one that you use especially for times like these.) Set the alarm so you get up 5 minutes early and watch the sun rise. Right before going to bed take 5 minutes and make a determined effort to set them aside for "you" time. It's not as hard as you might think.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #8

 Take soothing warm baths scented with your favorite. This need not be expensive but can really take the pressures away. While you are doing this listen to some soft relaxing music.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #8

Do you like hot tea? Or flavored hot chocolate or coffee? Sit down and fix yourself a cup. Sip it slowly. Take your time. Enjoy.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #9

 When you feel anxiety climbing to the uppermost limit, stop what you are doing. Look around you. If you do not feel safe go to a safe place immediately. When you are safe try to concentrate on breathing out very slowly. Do this several times until you feel better. Resist the urge to rush. Just concentrate on breathing out slowly and relaxing.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #10

When you get angry don't be afraid of it. Rip an old newspaper to shreds. Stomp all over a pillow. Run in place. Throw safe objects that aren't breakable into other safe spaces, stomp your feet, yell, scream into your pillow. Do whatever it takes to get the anger out. Don't hold it in.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #11

 Remember those wonderfully fun looking puddles you always wanted to splash in as a child? Well, why not now? It's a great stress breaker!

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #12

Is it winter and you have snow in the yard? Build a snowperson. It'll be fun, and takes lots of energy. Best done by recruiting neighborhood kids to help. (Be careful, the woman suggesting this also advised of the possibility of snowball fights.)

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #13

 Go to a used book store and prowl around until you find a book you like. They may be re-runs but it will be "new to you" and an inexpensive treat.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #14

Redirect your mind. Window shop. Surf the internet. Use StumbleUpon to randomly find interesting sites.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #15

Go to a mall or park and people watch.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #16

 Sing your heart out on bad and good days! No one has to hear you. That's what cars and showers are for!

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #17

 Do something you've always wanted to do, but haven't gotten gotten around to yet. There's no better time like now.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #18

 Get physical! Taking a walk is probably the easiest and cheapest one. While you are out make an effort to notice your surroundings.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #19

 Pray. If you aren't sure how, there are people who will be happy to help you. All you need to do is ask. A church is as close as your phone book, there are online ministries and many books available.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #20

 Run, climb, or dance. These things require more energy than walking and are good stress relievers.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #21

Take time to be kind to yourself. It takes time to overcome a tragedy. Do not feel as though you must be healed NOW! Give yourself time.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #22

 Keep a journal. This is a wonderful way, not only to help process your thoughts but when you look back. You can see patterns that need to be changed. It can also show you how much healing you have done.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #23

If you have a flashback. Hold on to something. Maybe a table or even a friend. Take a deep breath, exhale slowly. Focus on what is going on around you that you can see and touch. Keep doing this until you feel better.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #24

check out jokes, zoos, or crafts on one of the search engines.

Rape and Abuse Recovery Tips from Victims and Survivor #25

Treat yourself. Take an extra few minutes over a steaming cup of tea or cocoa. Give yourself a foot massage. Have your nails done. The activity matters less than the fact that you are something nice for yourself. 

More tips can be found by clicking this link. (There will be a 15 second intermission before the page loads. We use the revenue to keep the blog and website active.)

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Page Upate for Poetry by Survivors of Domestic Violence and Rape

We have just now finishing updating our poetry page. Poetry by domestic violence and rape survivors can be found on our website here. From this link you can read the poems that have been posted and Tweet your friends.

For several years now the poetry page has been one of the more active parts of our main website. Since almost our very beginning in 1996 survivors around the globe have been inspired by the words of others. Do you enjoy writing? We welcome additions to the poetry by domestic violence and rape survivors. From time to time, poetry may be able to be featured right here on The Hope Blog. Email your poem to us and we'll be glad to consider it. There is no compensation for this (we put the "non" in non-profit) but we will gladly place a reciprocal link to your blog. Email us at admin@hopeforheaing.org to learn more.

We are proud to announce another exciting opportunity for writers of poetry by domestic violence and rape survivors. You have probably heard about our internet based Blog Talk Radio show Voices of Hope. With few exceptions our Monday night segment is an open mike night. Survivors call-in live or email us to make a comment or ask questions.

Voices of Hope has become so popular that we are now allow survivors to read their poetry on the air! The show airs on Monday nights at 8PM Eastern. All shows are available as a free podcast download about 20 minutes after the show and from your iTunes account. By reading your poem you agree that you own the copyright and can read it on the air. You also agree to let us use it for the purposes of being redistributed as part of the show.

Simply call in to 718.506.1545 during Voices of Hope on Blog Talk Radio. The system will prompt you to press "1" on your keypad. This lets me know that  you have something you want say. I'll welcome you into the show in the order that the calls are received.

That's all there is to it. If you are a writer of poetry by survivors of domestic violence or rape you are welcome to share your healing.


Be sure to follow us on Twitter to get all the updates. Our ED's personal account is @gaylesglimpses. Don't forget to sign up to get email updates from The Hope Blog from Feedburner! This is another great way to keep informed about all the great things going on at our organization.

Great show on Discussing Date Rape

We had a great show today on discussing date rape with your college student. This is a hard subject to tackle. Generally, the harder the subject is to talk about the more it needs to be discussed. The subject of date rape is sometimes known as "the elephant in the room". We all want our kids to be safe. But how can we expect them to be ok if we don't give them the information they need?

After the Voices of Hope show aired today on Blog Talk Radio I received a number of emails. Starting the ball rolling was the email from a listener who asked us to talk about alcohol and date rape on college campuses. Two more emails have come in since then that have asked for more information on date rape and college campuses and alcohol.

I don't want to convey the impression that college campuses are cess pools for date rape or alcohol consumption. That's not the case. More students will not be victimized than there are who will be victimized. But, there are long-term problems for those who do become victims of sexual assault or date rape on a college campus or otherwise.

Here are some links that will help you explore the alcohol and date rape connection:

http://www.shs.ilstu.edu/sexual_assault/date_rape/alcohol.shtml
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-1/43-51.pdf
http://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/topics/sexual_violence/alcohol_assault.html
Free poster available for download from the Tennessee Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence:
http://www.tnblue.org/posters/3.pdf  Other posters are available on their website here.

Support for victims of date rape is critical. That's why it is important for our kids to be armed with the information that they need. Talking with your student about date rape on college campus or sexual assault in general opens the doorway to talking about other things. It lets your student know that you are there for them no matter what and it reinforces that rape is never the fault of the victim.

Keep tuning into Voices of Hope Lunch Buffet on Blog Talk Radio. We'll have other shows that will deal with other topics surrounding domestic and sexual violence including date rape on college campuses. The specific url for today's segment is http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hopeforhealing/2009/09/01/Voices-of-Hope-Lunch-Buffet


Our email address to use is voicesofhope@hopeforhealing.org. The url for the show is http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hopeforhealing It airs on Mondays at 8PM and Tuesdays at 12Noon (Eastern time).

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. We love hearing from you and strive to offer the shows that you want to hear!

Talk to Your College Student About Date Rape

Make your searches count.isearchigive Click here to help victims.

We don't want to think about it happening to our student. Instead of having a conversation we push the thought to the back of our mind. Months were spent getting ready for college. Lots of time and considering went into choosing the right school. The student is moving into a dorm or apartment (or has already moved in) and life is good. Why worry about sexual violence or date rape?

Sadly, some college students will be victims of date rape. This can happen in a variety of circumstances and happens to both girls and boys.

While we don't like to think about date rape or talk about it we must. Our college students deserve to know that they have parents who love them no matter what. Part of conveying that is talking about the hard the subjects like date rape.

Here are a few articles that will help you start the conversation:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1239142/how_to_talk_to_your_college_student.html?cat=25
http://www.hopeforhealing.org/daterape
http://www.thecenter.ucla.edu/daterape.html