22 Survivors Of Sexual Assault Share The Long-Term Impact Of Their Assault

From Lasting Impact, a photo campaign aimed at shedding light on the long-term impacts of sexual assault, domestic violence, and physical and emotional abuse. The campaign also hopes to share stories of empowerment and healing and let survivors know that, whatever they are feeling, they are not alone. To submit to Lasting Impact, email text or photos to [e-mail]. Facebook: www.facebook.com/LastingImpactPhotoCampaign, Twitter: @ImpactTumblr, Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/lastingimpactph. Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.

1.

Via lasting-impact.tumblr.com

"12 Years Later… I know I am an actor, a designer, a martial artist, an activist, a student, a dancer… but whenever I'm asked to define myself, the first thing I think of is RAPE VICTIM."

2.

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"7 Years Later… I can't go to the dentist without remembering…"

3.

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"5 Years Later… Whenever I walk into a room, the first thing I does find all possible escape routes."

4.

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"9 Years Later… 'Just get over it' hurts just as much as the abuse."

5.

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"6 Years Later… I always wear a swim suit whenever I'm home alone and need to take a shower."

6.

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"25 Years Later… I still hear loud noises and hide even in public. My body reacts that way!"

7.

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"4 Years Later… I do martial arts to help me feel empowered."

8.

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"4 months later… I had my first drink.

12 months later… I was drinking almost every day.

20 months later… I was an alcoholic. I lost my job.

21 months later… Drinking was consuming most of my financial and social resources.

27 months later… First AA meeting.

30 months later… First relapse.

6 years later… I've been clean and sober for over 3 years."

9.

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"4 Years and 121 self-harm scars later… I realized that my body was not what deserved to be punished. 47 days self-harm free!"

10.

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"They say 'it takes 7 years for your body to completely renew all its cells.' 2 more years until I have a body he hasn't touched… 2 more years until I am clean again… Right?"

11.

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"5 years later… I have nightmares in the safety of a different country… how long 'til I forget??"

12.

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"2 years later and I still can't talk about it… But I am learning to love myself again."

13.

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"7 months, and I still wake up from a dream that she's raping me once a week."

14.

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"1 year and 2 months later… I still blame myself for not stopping it. (I had a nightmare last night that I let it happen again). Maybe one day I'll forgive myself…"

15.

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"4 years later, I haven't really yelled at anyone in months. I guess it just took me some time to realize he was finally out of my home and I no longer felt the need to fill in his empty space and yell for him. I've realized the side effects, stress, trust issues and my difficulty letting people touch me is not my fault and after living with him all my life I finally have started to live without him controlling it."

16.

Via lasting-impact.tumblr.com

"12 years later… I thought I forgave my cousin. I thought I was healing. I saw him a few months ago and I still feel paranoid. When will he admit it and say sorry? When will I get justice? How do I get justice if I can't tell my family?"

17.

Via lasting-impact.tumblr.com

"4 years later… I will never forget. But I will move on. Her actions don't define me."

18.

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"2 years later… I had no appreciation for my body.

2 1/2 years later… I was anorexic.

4 years later… I started dancing and dance therapy which showed me how beautiful and powerful my body could be. It completely changed my life!"

19.

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"16 months later: I feel like I should have moved on by now- but I haven't. I feel like I should have gotten over it- but I didn't. I feel like I shouldn't think about it constantly- but I do."

20.

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"1 year later- I tell my friends what happened and I am called a slut.

3 years later- I am in the E.R. for cutting my wrist open, again.

Almost 9 years later- still healing… I don't believe I will ever be fully "ok" again."

21.

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"Over the past 20 years, I've been diagnosed with: depression, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD, dissociation, borderline, self-mutilation, OCD, substance abuse, bulimia, codependency, psychosis. But through the struggle, I've gained: resilience, strength, courage, friendship."

22.

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"7 years later… every stroke I take shows him I can be strong despite what he says."