For years, I have always said that sexual abuse is an epidemic that leaves it's victims feeling worthless, depressed, alone, and so much more. It not only affects the victim but everyone connected to the victim- loved ones, family members, friends, coworkers, even strangers on the street (we know how powerful energy can be).
So what is sexual abuse?
By definition, sexual abuse is to knowingly cause another person to engage in an unwanted sexual act by force or threat. When people think about sexual abuse, the majority of the time the image is a violent, dramatic act similar to what you would see in a movie. A girl is held down, screaming for her life while a man is on top of her tearing at her clothes. That is what is categorized as sexual assault, and what gets the most attention (hence the national campaign this month). The sad truth however is that most acts of sexual violence don't look like this. Most times it's little subtle acts that happen over time by someone the victim knows and often loves or cares for. In fact, many survivors don't realize they were violated until years later. This is mainly due to the fact that approximately 2/3 of all sexual abuse is committed by someone the victim knows- a parent or family member and 38% percent are caused by a friend or acquaintance.
Sexual abuse and the womb
Here at HJWB we believe that everything starts in the womb. It is your sacred portal. Your creative hub. The very essence of you and what you are as a woman. It is literally life force energy. When a woman is abused, it has a major impact on her womb space, both physically and energetically. Detachment, the inability to connect sexually, loss of creativity and drive, trust and intimacy issues, low self-esteem, and even becoming overly sexual can all be results of sexual abuse.
How to tell if you were abused?
As I mentioned before, many people do not realize they have been abused until years later. For some, it happens after a traumatic experience. For others, they begin remembering bits and pieces at a time. Some people experience the abuse as a child, but don't realize that it was wrong until they have children of their own. I was sexually abused as a child, but because of who my abusers were and how they treated me, I didn't realize it was abuse until I went through my first counseling session in my early twenties. I knew it was wrong and I didn't like how it made me feel, but I didn't know it was "abuse". Here is a quiz to help determine if you have been a victim of sexual abuse.
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you were sexually abused beloved. Whether this is the first time you have come to this realization or it's the first time you realized the severity of the situation, I know this may be a difficult moment for you. Breathe. Allow yourself to feel all that is coming up for you now.
The power to heal
Here is the beautiful thing beloved, you have the power. The power to reclaim all that was stolen from you. You have the power to protect yourself, to speak up for yourself, to heal yourself. You have the power of your womb.
I am not saying this journey will be easy. True healing requires work and dedication. It requires going into the shadow parts of yourself. It requires you to be vulnerable. To open up parts of yourself that may have been sealed off shut. But you also open yourself up for so much. You open yourself up to light, to love, to more. You open yourself up to womb wisdom.
And you don't have to do it alone. We have tools and resources to help guide you on your healing journey. We are here for you.
*We are aware that sexual abuse/assault is a sensitive topic and while HJWB and Javon A. Frazier offer holistic tools and resources for informational purposes, we understand that further professional help may be required. We have a list of verified professionals and will be glad to assist with finding additional resources.*
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