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Was this sexual assault or rape or my fault?

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I have this really good guy friend, he and I have known each other for years. We have never dated or done anything sexually, his family is very close with my family and we share a few of the same friends. He is also in a serious relationship with a good friend of mine.
One night, we went out drinking (like we have before on multiple occasions) We aren't major party-scene people or binge drinkers, but it happens sometimes. So when we got back to my place to sleep, he followed me into my room and said he wanted to sleep there because my living room couch was too uncomfortable. Since we were close, I didn't mind and didn't think anything of it.
We were laying there and talking, I was half asleep and quite drunk by this point....just ready to pass out. He started reaching over and pulling on my clothes, and I thought it was a joke. He kept doing it, so I turned to lay with my back to him...he just got more aggressive about it, and I lost my patience and tried to leave the room. He held me back, and I started to get frightened but he got all soothing and sweet, but I was asking him about his girlfriend and saying that I really just wasn't going to do anything sexual with him at all. He said "that's fine, you don't need to do anything to me." and proceeded to penetrate me with his hands. It hurt, and I was uncoordinated because of the alcohol, but I kept asking him to stop and telling him I didn't want to and even trying to make jokes to bring him back to the FRIENDSHIP factor. I tried everything, becoming more frantic and upset, and eventually he just put his hand over my mouth while he became bolder and more ...aggressive? As soon as his hand was over my face, he seemed to lose even the smallest amount of gentleness.
He never used his penis, he only used his hands and mouth during this. It lasted over two hours, and I even passed out a few times (due to alcohol or lack of air, I don't know) and eventually he just stopped, let me go, and masturbated right beside me. And then he went to sleep.
I feel very very awkward about this situation....he was my friend. For so long. There was never any indication or forewarning. We flirted, but it was the flirting that would happen between two friends. I had never sexually teased him...I only told my two best friends what happened, but they were just standoffish about it, so I stopped talking about it to them. I almost feel like I am lying about it, because it seems surreal, like it didn't happen, like it couldn't have happened.
Its been almost two months, and it still bothers me. I have anxiety attacks, I feel isolated from people, I suddenly feel ugly and bloated, I'm hyper-aware of my appearance. I don't want to go out with friends, I just want to lay in my room.
What can I do to get past this? I don't want to press charges because it would be a huuuuge deal between friends/my family (it would kill my father, this boys parents are very close and dear to him).....so what can I do? What can I say? I want to tell my best friends all the details of what happened, I want to just have it out there....but they don't ask me and they act like it never happened...
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First Helper amour2lespoir1
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replied July 19th, 2011
Do you think you could tell your father?? Wonder what his insight would be in the whole situation. I'm sorry your friends are not very supportive. If you decide to press charges, and family, friends, and the authorities will ask a lot of questions & have a lot of doubts because of how it happened...which may make you feel worse. I don't think it was your fault. He took advantage of your relationship & your drunkenness. This makes me angry because he is getting away with what he did, while you suffer. He took more from you than you realize.
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User Profile
replied July 24th, 2011
Healing process!
Has he said anything about it since?, is he aware of what he did?..it might just have been a drunken mistake, he might not even know that he did that!
Until I know the answers to these questions..the only things i can say is; try not to be around him, it'll just make it awkward and you feel tense.
Involve yourself in a hobby, something you enjoy doing, wheather its reading, dancing, horse riding..anything!
This will take your mind off it.
Try to surround yourself with family and friends and just let go!, this will create a happy, fun enviroment and you wont feel so insecure and tense.
Dont shut yourself away!, this will just put you back into depression as your alone and your mind will drift back to it all.
Enjoy some 'me time'..have a bubble bath&relax!, pamper yourself!, put some make-up on, your favorite clothes..and go out!, it'll raise your confidence and self esteem.
Another way to raise self esteem is to ask your family or friends (I would suggest friends due to the situation) what they think of you!, it may sound silly but it helps. Get them to simply jot down everything they like about you, and all your best qualities!
Sign yourself up at a dating website! I know it sounds completely crazy but it will help will your self confidence, knowing that theres men out there who think your perfect the way you are.

Dont let it get you down, hun.
Everything will soon change, you've just got to give yourself some 'healing time'.

All the best,
Angela
-x-
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replied July 24th, 2011
I'm sorry, but this girl said that she was sexually assaulted, & someone suggests she go on a dating website & take a bubble bath???
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replied July 24th, 2011
Extremely eHealthy
hi, if THEY r your best friends and skip over this then;
u might want to have an in depth conversation IF they r willing as to why they act that way when u want to portray a event different.
so this may be more about u than what happened.
hope u can put all things into perspective
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replied September 9th, 2011
In one of our many subconscious forms of stereo-typing, we tend to 'blame the victim', meaning it was your fault you were in that situation, and it seems that that's what your 'friends' have done to you. I hope you know that is IS NOT your fault. The point is, he took advantage of your intoxication, and the closeness ya'll had built from years of friendship. When something stressful happens like this, sometimes we think it's more beneficial to suppress thoughts and act as though they never happened, but holding in such a vast array of emotions can make you physically ill, as well as mentally. I'm so sorry that happened to you, and I can only imagine what you may be going through, but I hope things get better for you!
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replied September 29th, 2011
Uh... this is rape. You need to report it. Taking a bubble bath will no help things, just trivialize the problem.
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replied February 20th, 2012
Drunk or not, he knows what he did. He may be feeling humiliated or he may thinl it was O.K. to do that. He prob doesn't have a clue to the anguish he's putting you through. Has he apologized? Or talked to you about it? I' m curiouse if that would make a diff to how you feel? Rape or something else. This is serious for both.
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