As a heads up, the #LastingImpact Tumblr is probably one of the most harrowing things you'll see all day. But it's also one of the most important things, too.
An amazingly powerful (but equally devastatingly sad) new Tumblr has been set up to help survivors of sexual assault deal with the long term effects and #lastingimpact of their abuse.
In a bid to show fellow survivors that they're never, ever alone - but also to raise awareness of the fact that dealing with sexual assault is often a lengthy, difficult process - people are posting statements explaining how their experiences have had a #lastingimpact on their lives.
'As a survivor of childhood sexual assault, I struggled for many years with mental health issues that impacted almost every aspect of my daily life and left me feeling confused and alone,' the founder, Alison, told The Huffington Post. 'It wasn't until I began to connect with other survivors that I came to realize that this is a common and valid response to trauma, and it was only then that I truly began to heal.'
'While the campaign focuses primarily on the challenges faced by survivors, it also shows that we all have an incredible capacity for courage, resilience, and growth. Survivors' stories do not have to begin and end with fear, violation, and despair. It is my hope that when survivors read these stories, they recognize that their experiences are valid and understand that no matter what they are feeling, they are never alone.'
And while it makes for harrowing reading, it's incredibly important, too. After all, it's crucial to remember that every survivor of sexual assault is an individual - and that what helps one person, might not help another. But that whatever it does take for them to deal with their experiences, they will get through it. Even though they should never have had to in the first place.
Read on to see 11 more amazing, inspirational women speak out about the #lastingimpact of their experiences:
