Abuse

There are many types of abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, child abuse, emotional abuse, elder abuse, drug abuse and unfortunately more. Not one has to be a victim of abuse. There are many resources of help in communities all over the world. We hope to include them here.

If you have a suggestion for help in your area, please CONTRIBUTE!

FOR IMMEDIATE HELP In the United States:

If you are a victim of domestic violence, please call National Domestic Violence Hot-line 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

If you are a victim of sexual assault, please call: Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) 1-877-739-3895

If you are a victim of stalking, please call:Center for Victims of Crime, Stalking Resource Center 1-800-394-2255 1-800-211-7996 (TTY)

The Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project Hotline 1-800-832-1901

If you have been raped, assaulted, or are being abused; seek help. Please.

Some things you might not have thought of:

It's okay to make notes. If there are things you need to remember, write it down.

Don't bathe. I know that the first thing that you are going to want to do is scrub yourself down and stand in a shower for hours, but baby you can't. You have to get the rape kit done first. This is so the police can gather evidence. Even if you don't think you can testify- have the evidence collected. Just in case something changes.

It's not your fault.

Everyone reacts differently to being violated. You are allowed to have whatever feelings you have.

Give yourself time to heal. Be good to yourself. A common thread among rape victims is to punish their body further. Give yourself whatever it is YOU need.

Seek out help. Rape Crisis, Hotlines, reach out.

Sometimes the first line of responders will let you down. It's tragic but there are a lot of people who are supposed to be in the helping business who only make it worse. If you find yourself with an advocate who makes you feel violated a second time- get another advocate. They are there to help you, and if they aren't helping you- don't let that stop you from finding what YOU need.

RESOURCES | LINKS

AARDVARC An Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Collection: http://www.aardvarc.org/ This a site is for victims of violence, their families and friends, and the agencies and programs which serve them, both public and private. Includes domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.

Advocate Web: http://www.advocateweb.org/hope/default.asp When professionals abuse their trust.

After Silence: http://www.aftersilence.org/ This is an amazing non-profit organization with Message Boards and Chat Rooms for Survivors. I LOVE their mantra "You are not alone, you are NOT broken, and you CAN heal."

Breaking the Cycle: http://www.breakingthecycleinc.com/ This looks like another site set up with links... but many of these links really give great information.

CUAV: Community United Against Violence: http://www.cuav.org/index.php "A multicultural organization working to end violence against and within our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) communities. We believe that in order for homophobia and heterosexism to end, we must fight all forms of oppression, including racism, sexism, ageism, classism, and ableism. CUAV offers a 24-hour confidential, multilingual crisis line, free counseling, legal advocacy, and emergency assistance (hotel, food, and transportation) to survivors of hate and domestic violence."

Date Safe Project: http://www.thedatesafeproject.org/index.html This organization is teaching how "asking first" makes all the difference in creating safer intimacy and in decreasing occurrences of sexual assault. They are breaking new ground when it comes to consent.

Department of Justice (US) Office on Violence Against Women: http://www.usdoj.gov/ovw/ This is the site primarily for those in the United States- but there is a great deal of information.

Gay Man's Domestic Violence Project: http://www.gmdvp.org/ One in 4 gay men will experience domestic violence. This site has amazing resources to end this.

Generation Five: http://www.generationfive.org/ Ending Child Sexual Abuse in 5 Generations

Girl Thrive: http://www.girlthrive.com/ For Survivors of Abuse. This site is intended for teens girls who have experienced Sexual Abuse or Incest.

Male Survivor: http://www.malesurvivor.org/ For male victims of Sexual Abuse Men Against Sexual Violence: http://menagainstsexualviolence.org/

Men Can Stop Rape: http://www.mencanstoprape.org/ National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence: http://www.ncdsv.org/

National Center for Victims of Crime: http://www.ncvc.org/

National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Iniative: http://www.ndvfri.org/

National Sexual Violence Resource Center: http://www.nsvrc.org/

Pandora's Aquarium: http://www.pandys.org/ Online Support Group for the Survivors of Sexual Violence

RAINN Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network: http://www.rainn.org/

Rape Victim Advocates: http://www.rapevictimadvocates.org/

SARA- Sexual Assault Resource Agency: http://www.sexualassaultresources.org/index.html

Silent Witness: http://www.silentwitness.net/ Women who die from domestic violence

SOAR Speaking Out About Rape: http://www.soar99.org/

Take back the news: http://www.takebackthenews.org/

Truth About Rape: http://www.truthaboutrape.com/

Voices and Faces: http://www.voicesandfaces.org/

White Ribbon Campaign: http://www.whiteribbon.ca/ Men stopping violence