An infographic with the title "Things to Remember About Storms." The list includes: They can be scary & chaotic; They cause us to slow down; They can make trees take deeper roots; They help things grow; Rainbows often follow; They won’t last forever.

Healing is a journey without a straight line. There is no right or wrong way to heal. Your heart knows what it needs. VOICE as well as other campus and community resources are here to support you along your journey. Remember that you are not broken and your experience does not define you.

GET HELP

Have you experienced sexual violence or have questions related to victim-survivor support, referrals, accommodations, and reporting options and need to speak to a VOICE Advocate?

For confidential support contact us at 404.894.9000 24 hours per day.

Appointments are available for individuals affiliated with Georgia Tech.  

Book an appointment with an advocate.
You have already begun to heal.

It is important for everyone to practice self-care but it is more important for victim-survivors as they cope with a traumatic experience. Self-care is more than massages or things that we do when we need a break. It also includes prioritizing caring for our bodies through sleep and nourishment and our emotional health through boundaries and a healthy school/free time balance. Talk to VOICE about resources and support that can help you create a personal self-care plan. Some strategies that may help include:

Remember that your experience is your own.

Everyone responds to an experience of sexual violence differently. There’s no “right way” to feel. You may feel angry, sad, exhausted, indifferent, anxious, numb or a combination of feelings-- and how you feel may change day by day or hour by hour. You can also feel self-blame and doubt, shame,guilt, and helplessness. Supporters can have many of these same emotions. 

What you’ll need in terms of self-care will probably look different at different times. For example, some days you may find it useful to talk at length with a friend, while other days you may prefer to get cozy in your room with a good book. Some days you may want to distract yourself and talk about anything but what happened.Seeing the perpetrator or other reminders can be triggers for increased trauma symptoms.

Talk to a professional

Finding a source of support is an essential element of self-care. VOICE is always available to explore options and resources specific to your situation. Visit our Resources page to find tools that you can utilize for safety planning and coping with trauma.

Unplug from media

One helpful thing to do, if possible, is to step away from the news and social media regularly, especially if all of the coverage is feeling like too much to handle. When stories about sexual violence are in the media, consider taking a break from watching or reading the news. This doesn’t mean that you’re uninformed or that you don’t care—it just means that you take your self-care seriously. Remember, you get to decide what media you consume. Consider within what contexts and with what people you’re comfortable discussing sexual violence.

Ask friends for support

Your friends are a great support resource. While it can feel hard to ask for help, remember that people like helping others, and your friends want to be there for you, just like you want to be there for them. Let your trusted friends know what kind of support is most helpful to you. Try saying phrases like:

  • “I’m having trouble working up the courage to go to VOICE. Would you be willing to walk me there?”
  • “It would be helpful to take my mind off of things for a while. Could we maybe watch a movie together?”
  • “Can I tell you about what happened the other night and how it made me feel?

If you’re struggling with a specific aspect of self-care, such as getting enough sleep, for example, ask a friend to help you out. In this case, your friend could check in with you about how you’re sleeping, send you gentle reminders to head to bed, and help you make a plan for dealing with insomnia. Similarly, you and a friend could sign up to take a yoga class together or go for a walk regularly and hold each other accountable for carving out time to recharge.

Invest in things you love

When you are having a difficult time, you might feel like you don’t want to do the activities you once enjoyed. However, staying connected to people and activities that you care about can help. Whether you’re playing a sport or exercising, enjoying your favorite hobby, attending a religious service, or rereading your favorite book for the 11th time, remember the things that bring you joy and embrace them.