Love shouldn’t hurt-ever
- Love Shouldn't Hurt - Ever
- Wednesday, 01 May 2024 09:20
After Abuse
by Teresia Smith
Sexual abuse, especially early in life, makes trusting others very difficult. If you were abused at a young age, relationships have not ever felt safe or reliable. You may have believed there was no one you could count on. And whoever abused you certainly betrayed you. You may have sensed that something wasn’t right, but you wondered if it was your fault. Maybe you were forced to keep it a secret. Possibly you did tell someone, but perhaps they didn’t believe you, or blamed you, or told you not to tell.
Love shouldn’t hurt-ever
- Love Shouldn't Hurt - Ever
- Tuesday, 23 April 2024 06:05
Keep the Conversation Going
by Teresia Smith
Every year as we close out Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I find myself wondering if we’ve succeeded in reaching more people and given them knowledge and information to make a difference. It is very important to know how to react when someone confides in you that they have been assaulted. And it is very important that you know your community resources so you can help them reach out. Beyond that, there is another thing that is very important — continue the conversation.
Love shouldn’t hurt-ever
- Love Shouldn't Hurt - Ever
- Monday, 08 April 2024 11:29
Sexual Assault is More Than Rape
by Teresia Smith
There’s often a misunderstanding that sexual assault is simply another way to describe rape or attempted rape. Sexual abuse is not limited to physical contact.
Love shouldn’t hurt-ever
- Love Shouldn't Hurt - Ever
- Tuesday, 02 April 2024 06:17
Building Connected Communities
by Teresia Smith
Our nation recognizes April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). SAAM aims to raise public awareness about sexual violence and communicate to members of the community what services are available to survivors. This year’s national theme is “Building Connected Communities”. The focus is to foster community awareness to promote safety, respect, and bystander intervention to help stop sexual violence before it happens. Our goal is to educate communities on how they can embrace their voices to show their support for survivors, as well as take a stand against victim blaming and hurtful misconceptions.
Love shouldn’t hurt-ever
- Love Shouldn't Hurt - Ever
- Wednesday, 27 March 2024 09:26
Reasons They Stay
by Teresia Smith
When a friend experiences intimate partner violence in a relationship, it can be very difficult for us to not try to intervene. Unfortunately, you can’t make the decision to leave that relationship for your friend. However, there are things you can do to support them so that when they are ready to leave, they know their options.
Your Community Newspaper
