Will I ever have a “Normal” relationship again?
Absolutely! What you’ve experienced is a life changing event. This does not mean that you cannot have a healthy relationship. In the next few pages you will find signs of an Unhealthy Relationship along with the Relationship Bill of Rights.
Relationships are all about open and honest communication and respect. This does not mean that if you are entering a relationship you must tell the individual that you were assaulted right away. You may want to wait and see how the relationship unfolds and, if you feel that there may be some issues that come up because of your experience, you may want to let your partner know. Sometimes sitting down with a sexual assault advocate, may help you and your partner process the assault and its effects on your relationship.
There are some books available for couples to work in together that will help with some of the issues. One book that we often recommend is “Allies in Healing.” By Laura Davis. The office has a couple of copies of the book if you are interested, you can borrow it. Please contact a sexual assault advocate through the support line at 1-800-871-7741.
