How to Heal From Animal Rape

People who have suffered from animal rape often feel isolated and ashamed. They believe that nobody else has ever suffered from animal rape, and they fear that nobody will believe them if they tell. Unfortunately, animal rape as part of child abuse is much more common than anyone wants to believe. Survivors of childhood animal rape do not need to suffer in silence. You can find support and heal through therapy and talking with other child abuse survivors. Here is how to heal from animal rape.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Recognize that you are not alone. Unfortunately, many predators force children to endure animal rape as part of their abuse. Also, there is a market for pictures and videos of animals raping children, so some predators force children to suffer from animal rape for monetary gain. You are not alone in having suffered from animal rape.

2. Distinguish between animal rape and bestiality. People who engage in bestiality choose to have sexual contact with animals. This is not the same thing as animal rape. If another person forced you to have sexual contact with an animal, you experienced animal rape, not bestiality. It is very important that you draw this distinction in your head as you heal.

3. Find a qualified therapist with experience in counseling people who have suffered from severe forms of child abuse. Animal rape is one of the most severe forms of child abuse, so you need to work with a therapist who knows how to help you heal from the trauma you suffered.

4. Talk about the animal rape. Many people who suffered from animal rape hold the secret inside for decades because they are too ashamed to tell anyone. Talking about the animal rape and receiving emotional support is a huge step toward healing from the trauma. Talk with your therapist or a trusted friend about what happened. See the Resources section for a link to a message board for abuse survivors where talking about animal rape is welcome.

5. Let go of the shame. Most people who suffered from animal rape feel an enormous amount of shame. Some animal rape survivors question whether they are even “human” any longer. You bear no shame for having suffered from animal rape. The animal rape was not your fault. NOTHING that another person or animal does to you can change the value of who you are.

6. Comfort yourself. Many survivors of animal rape hate themselves, including their bodies. Try to reach inside of yourself to your wounded inner child and comfort him or her. Choose to stop hating yourself and, instead, do things to comfort the traumatized child inside.

7. Learn how to love yourself. This step is going to take a long time, but each baby step you take toward loving yourself is helping you heal from the animal rape. As you grow to love yourself, you will see your wounded inner child through the eyes of compassion.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient with yourself. It can take a long time to heal from the trauma of severe child abuse like animal rape.
• Join an online support group. See the Resources section for online resources where you can talk about your experiences. You don’t have to heal from animal rape alone.
• Talk with your therapist or crisis counselor immediately if you are struggling with suicidal urges. Suicidal urges are normal for people who have endured animal rape. As you heal, you will stop battling such severe suicidal urges.
• Only work with a qualified therapist with experience in counseling survivors of severe abuse. While a religious or amateur counselor might be helpful for less serious issues, only a licensed and qualified psychologist or psychiatrist has the training to help you heal from child abuse as severe as animal rape.

Resources

• Animal Sexual Abuse Survivors
• Recovering from Childhood Animal Rape
• Aftereffects of Animal Rape
• The Shame of Animal Rape
• Isurvive: Message Board for Child Abuse Survivors

[stevenmamundson]

on 7/7/2009 read here http://superedpack.com/category/men-s-health.html

[jahfriendly]

on 3/16/2009 So far this article has helped me and others come to terms with the damaging mental effects of Animal Rape. The rest of us are wondering when you will cover the physical reprecussions of Animal Rape.

[IcyCucky]

on 11/20/2008 I'm shock since I didn't think that this kind of abuse could happen..Thanks for opening my eyes, and educate me! God bless!

I'm going to check out your blog, and promote it as much as I can...Thank you!

[lynnhsmomof2]

on 11/20/2008 I had never heard of this. Thanks for sharing.

[soanyway]

on 11/17/2008 I guess we think that the only sexual abuse is from the human aspect, I too suffered physical, mental and sexual abuse as a child. But...I thankfully never experienced this. Thank you for your article...I know it is a long process to heal.