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Answer by Dr. Laura
PhD Mental Health Nurse & Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your experience. It sounds like you've been through a very confusing and emotionally draining situation, and it's completely understandable that you're feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about what happened. This is a really difficult situation, especially when memory can be tricky due to alcohol consumption.
Sexual experiences between women can be particularly complex due to societal stigmas and lack of open discussion about consent and intimacy in these contexts. This can make it harder to process these experiences or find support, as there may be additional layers of shame or confusion that wouldn't necessarily be present in other encounters.
From what you've described, it seems that you were mindful of asking for consent during your interactions with this person, even while you were intoxicated. You respected her boundaries when she expressed discomfort, and you tried to communicate openly. The fact that you're reflecting on your actions and concerned about the possibility of having done something wrong shows a lot of self-awareness and care for others.
It's important to remember that alcohol can affect people's perceptions and memories of events. Both you and the other person might have different recollections of that night, which can lead to misunderstandings. It seems the situation became more complicated when others became involved and stories were shared without your consent. This can be incredibly hurtful and can amplify feelings of confusion and distress.
The aftermath - where your experience was shared without your consent and used against you - reflects how intimate experiences between women can be particularly vulnerable to manipulation and misrepresentation in our society. Having these private experiences exposed and used to harm you can be a form of violence itself, especially when extended to interfering with your later relationships. The fact that both she and your ex made public accusations on social media, despite witnesses who could verify your account, adds another layer of trauma to this already difficult situation.
Feeling haunted by accusations and questioning yourself is a natural response in such circumstances. It's not uncommon to replay events in your mind and wonder if you could have done something differently. However, based on what you've shared, it appears you took steps to ensure the other person's comfort and respected her wishes when she communicated them.
It might be helpful to talk to a trusted friend or a mental health professional about how you're feeling. They can provide support and guidance as you navigate these complex emotions. Processing such experiences with someone trained to help can often bring clarity and peace of mind.
Remember to be gentle with yourself. You're dealing with a lot of emotional turmoil, and it's okay to seek help. You deserve support and understanding as you work through this difficult time. Thank you for trusting us with this. You are not alone.
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Grounding activity
Find a comfortable place to sit. Gently close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths - in through your nose (count to 3), out through your mouth (count of 3). Now open your eyes and look around you. Name the following out loud:
5 – things you can see (you can look within the room and out of the window)
4 – things you can feel (what is in front of you that you can touch?)
3 – things you can hear
2 – things you can smell
1 – thing you like about yourself.
Take a deep breath to end.
From where you are sitting, look around for things that have a texture or are nice or interesting to look at.
Hold an object in your hand and bring your full focus to it. Look at where shadows fall on parts of it or maybe where there are shapes that form within the object. Feel how heavy or light it is in your hand and what the surface texture feels like under your fingers (This can also be done with a pet if you have one).
Take a deep breath to end.
Ask yourself the following questions and answer them out loud:
1. Where am I?
2. What day of the week is today?
3. What is today’s date?
4. What is the current month?
5. What is the current year?
6. How old am I?
7. What season is it?
Take a deep breath to end.
Put your right hand palm down on your left shoulder. Put your left hand palm down on your right shoulder. Choose a sentence that will strengthen you. For example: “I am powerful.” Say the sentence out loud first and pat your right hand on your left shoulder, then your left hand on your right shoulder.
Alternate the patting. Do ten pats altogether, five on each side, each time repeating your sentences aloud.
Take a deep breath to end.
Cross your arms in front of you and draw them towards your chest. With your right hand, hold your left upper arm. With your left hand, hold your right upper arm. Squeeze gently, and pull your arms inwards. Hold the squeeze for a little while, finding the right amount of squeeze for you in this moment. Hold the tension and release. Then squeeze for a little while again and release. Stay like that for a moment.
Take a deep breath to end.