If you are a secondary survivor, you are here because you care about the person in your life who has been the victim of sexual violence. Sexual violence can affect the people in the survivor's life in many ways. You have every right to feel angry, sad and upset and there are resources for you to help you deal with those emotions. Many people feel helpless while watching someone go through such terrible pain, but you are not. If a survivor has come to you, it means that you are trusted and you can have an enormous influence in your friend's healing. Click here to read about some of the best and worst things I've heard people say to survivors. To read an essay I wrote about how the supportive people in my life helped me. Click here and you can read my mother's story of healing and helping me heal here. Although you may not always know what to say or how to help, a supportive presence is healing. Thank you for trying to provide that for the survivor in your life. My boyfriend and my parents were very much affected by my rape, but they continued to support me. For that, I am incredibly grateful; Without their unwavering support, I would not be who I am today.
Your support is important.
