King County Sexual Assault Resource Center: For Teens

If you've been assaulted:
You're probably having a lot of emotions and changes in your life. These are some of the things that you might be feeling or experiencing:

depressed/ angry/ afraid for your safety/ afraid you'll see the person who assaulted you/ anxious/ isolated/ overwhelmed/ problems concentrating/ nightmares or sleeping problems (not able to sleep, or sleeping a lot)/ changes in eating habits (overeating or no appetite)/ you don't want to be around anyone, including your friends and family/ you may think no one will care or understand/ you may think you're going crazy

Guess what? These are totally normal reactions to have when something terrible has happened to you. And you can get help to deal with it.

First of all, you aren't alone. 1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys is sexually assaulted by age 16. That means that there are lots of people who are going through the same thing you are. And there are lots of people who have been where you are and understand. And there are people who can help you.

You may be acting differently, getting into trouble, trying to find a way to cope with the pain and confusion that you're feeling. A lot of your behaviors may change when something traumatic happens. A lot of kids try to escape from their pain by drinking, taking drugs, having many sexual relationships, or anxiety and fear about sexual relationships. Some kids hide out from everyone, cry all the time, become afraid of men, feel alone, or avoid any kind of social event.

There are ways that you can deal with what you're going through that promote strength and healing, so you can move on with your life!

If you're in a crisis:

If you're feeling like you can't take the pain, if you're hurting or cutting yourself, or if you're thinking about suicide: Stop for a minute. Suicide & the impulse to hurt yourself are intense feelings that usually last for only a short time only. Find someone to talk to about how you're feeling and talk through your pain. This helps most people feel better.

What you can do if you're in a crisis:

Call a friend or someone you trust.

Talk to your parents or a relative who you trust.

Talk to a trusted adult-- your teacher, school counselor, doctor, a friend's parent

Write about your experience.

Call our 24-hour Resource Line: 1-888-99-VOICE. The advocates are experts, and your call is confidential.

Call the Teen Link Crisis Line (206-461-4922 or 1-866-TeenLink) to talk to another teen, anonymously and confidentially.

Draw, paint or make some art about your experience-- create something that expresses your feeling. Use color, detail or impressions.

Check out our bibliography for teens. So many kids have experienced sexual assault, and it may help you to read their stories and know that you aren't alone.

more information:

If Your Friend Needs Help...

Date & Acquaintance Rape...

Sexual & Dating Violence Among Teens... (pdf file)

Date Rape Drugs

Sexual Harassment

Dating & Relationships

Statistics about Teen Dating Violence (pdf file)

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