Healing the body does not refer to healing physical injuries endured during rape or sexual assault, it means reclaiming your body as your own. Reclaiming the body is critical for all survivors of sexual assault. Having someone overpower you requires that you re-establish a positive relationship with your body in order to heal.
Reclaiming my body has been so transformational in my healing. I have used most of the ways to heal listed below and I highly recommend you do the same!
Dance
Yoga
Exercise
Modeling
Sex with someone that empowers you
Sex work (only for survivors who are truly healed and empowered. Never go into the field of sex work while you are still hurting)
Masturbation/Self-pleasure
Kick-boxing
Karate
Swimming
Sports
Celibacy
Eating foods that empower you
Exercise
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Shot by PeteShawn, 2018, Atlanta, Georgia
Shot by PeteShawn, 2018, Atlanta, Georgia
“Virginity is a social construct meaning that humans invented [this concept]. We can redefine it at any time. I personal believe that we should redefine the word “virgin” to mean someone
who has never had consensual sex… You can reclaim your virginity at any point in time through prayer, meditation, or by simply stating “I’m a virgin” or, “I reclaim my virginity NOW!”
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“Self-compassion is a process, especially if you’ve been abused, bullied, or raped. How do you build yourself back up after you’ve been torn down? I say, there are many ways to build your confidence and self-image. First, you must break free from the abuse and surround yourself
with people that love and support you. Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s easy to blame yourself and self-destruct, but you don’t deserve the abuse from others nor from yourself. Next, start
living [and leading] from spirit. Do anything and everything that makes you happy. Be creative, work hard toward your dreams, make music, sing, dance, play, spend lots of time in nature. Drop bad habits. Stop caring and start living. Fuck the beauty industry. You don’t need to do anything to be “prettier”. You are already perfect.”
-Originally posted on Instagram July 25, 2016