Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week
5-11 February marks Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week.
5-11 February marks Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week. A week to raise awareness of services like RASASC that offer support survivors, as well as starting conversations to break down taboos around sexual harm.
After experiencing a traumatic incident such as rape or sexual abuse, many survivors can feel ashamed or guilty by reacting in ways they hadn’t anticipated, and some can feel they didn’t do enough to prevent the abuse from happening.
It’s important to remember that your fear reactions are instinctive. Your brain is designed to protect you and it will automatically take action to prevent you from harm. These reactions are designed to keep you safe and reacting like this doesn’t mean you are consenting to what is happening to you, your brain is trying to help you survive the situation.
The five fear responses are:
These reactions are all instinctive survival mechanisms. It’s important to remember that by reacting like this, you are not giving consent.
If you need help after rape and sexual abuse, we support anyone over the age of 13 across Surrey who has been affected by sexual harm.
To find out more about what we do and to get in touch, visit our Get Support page or have a look through our FAQs
If you live outside of Surrey, visit
The Survivors Trust who can direct you to services in your area that can offer support
