I know how overwhelming it can be find help after finding out about the abuse. Here are some resources to get you started on the road to recovery:
Videos
Recognizing the symptoms of abuse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP-t0p7wNzY (3 minutes)
How trauma impacts the body: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdIQRxwT1I0 (9 minutes)
Trauma focused treatment: https://www.nctsn.org/resources/promise-trauma-focused-therapy-childhood-sexual-abuse-video (27 minutes)
Survivor’s TED Talk on the need for support in recovery: https://www.ted.com/talks/rena_romano_healing_from_sexual_abuse_can_start_with_one_word (14 minutes)
Video guide for caregivers: https://rainn.org/lean-on-me?_ga=2.98045590.84262003.1678658413-1170237035.1678658413 (45 minutes, 5 videos)
Books
The Body Keeps the Score, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing, Oprah Winfrey, Bruce D. Perry, et al.
What Do I Do Now? A Survival Guide for Mothers of Sexually Abused Children (MOSAC), Mel Langston PhD & Leona Puma
It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle, Mark Wolynn
Helping Your Child Recover from Sexual Abuse, Caren Adams & Jennifer J. Fay
Organizations
Resources for victim recovery:
Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Organization (RAINN), www.rainn.org
Child Welfare Information Gateway, https://www.childwelfare.gov/organizations/?CWIGFunctionsaction=rols:main.dspList&rolType=Custom&RS_ID=77 (This link has numerous national resources)
National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), www.nctsn.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), www.nsvrc.org
Enough Abuse, www.enoughabuse.org
Helping Survivors, helpingsurvivors.org/child-sexual-abuse/
Resources for prevention:
Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childsexualabuse/fastfact.html
Darkness2Light, www.d2l.org
Prevent Child Abuse, www.preventchildabuse.org
Erin’s Law, www.erinslaw.org
Zero Abuse Project, www.zeroabuseproject.org