Aftersilence.org en espanol
RAINN:
1-800-656-HOPE
"One year ago, I locked my door and went to sleep; like we all do on any given night. Unfortunately, this night was like no other before and was one I will never be able to forget. I woke up that night to a co-worker who had undressed himself, crawled into my bed and raped me. " Kathleen, rape survivor
Rape is a crime, talking about it isn't.
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Dental Visits
Going to the dentist can be a traumatic experience for survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Most survivors often experience trouble in making and keeping appointments and as a result are more than likely to experience serious dental problems.
Being alone with a person, being touched, having objects put into one's mouth, experiencing pain and being unable to swallow are some of the reasons a dental visit is difficult for survivors of sexual violence.
Suggestions to make your dental visit more comfortable:
- Let your dentist know your concerns and fears. Most dentists are now becoming more sensitive to dental anxiety caused by sexual abuse.
- Ask your dentist to explain the procedure and ask him or her to alert you of pain.
- If you feel uncomfortable, ask your dentist to stop.
- Take nice, deep breaths and remind yourself that it will be over soon.
- Don't watch the clock.
- Bring a friend.
- For children, have them bring their favorite stuffed animal.
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