Hope For Healing. Org Formerly the Rape Recovery Help and Info. Page |
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Male Rape
Yes, men can be victimized.
No, it does not mean you are weak.
Rape is NEVER the victim's fault.
Being victimized does not mean there's anything wrong with you and it does not mean you have to suffer
alone. Men have many of the same issues as women after they are raped but even less support. It's ok to want
to talk about what happened. You don't have to keep things bottled up inside. You have done nothing to be ashamed of.
Rape is a crime about power and control.
The sexual preference of the victim (and sometimes the predator) often
doesn't matter. Male rape survivors include heterosexuals, homosexuals, teenagers and children.
Some men are drugged with chemicals known as date rape drugs. Others are not.
Prompt medical care is as important for men
as it is for women. If you have been victimized please do not change your clothes, shower or otherwise clean up. If you do,
valuable evidence may be lost. If you are reading this too late you still need to consider having a medical exam done as
soon as possible to rule out injuries or disease.
Many men report difficulty sleeping, problems with nightmares, flashbacks, anger, fear and concentration after being victimized.
If you have some of these problems it does not mean you are going crazy. You are reacting to what was a crazy situation. It take some time
for you to feel like yourself again. It's a good idea to read about P.T.S.D. (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). PTSD is so common after rape
that it is sometimes described as "a normal reaction to an abnormal event". Men and women can develop this reaction. Therapy and/or
anti-anxiety medications can help.
More information on PTSD can be found here: http://www.hopeforhealing.org/ptsd
Support can be vital to heal. Sadly, men often find it hard to talk about and often do not get the support deserved.
If this is the case, try calling a rape crisis center. They can offer counseling and support. Online support can be found at the
following urls. Don't be afraid to reach out to other survivors. You deserve the support you need to heal.The listing is incomplete as there are more sites being built on the web each day. To suggest a site email us at:
hopeinfo@hopeforhealing.org or add your site to the add-a-link section from the front page.For more support, an unmoderated list serve to serve the needs of male survivors is offered here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mensurvivors
Men are also welcome in the following club and forums:
Rape Recovery 2 A Yahoo Group Rape Recovery Forum on Delphi
Please read this first.
Guidelines for all Hope For Healing.Org forums are here:
http://www.hopeforhealing.org/guidelines
By entering the forums you agree to the guidlines.