How Masturbation Helped Me Heal From Sexual Trauma

I am a survivor of rape. After it happened, I felt like something precious had been stolen from me.
I isolated myself from my friends and loved ones. I struggled with low self-esteem and found myself trapped in an abusive relationship. Worst of all, I felt like I couldn’t trust my body anymore.
My body froze completely underneath my assailant, and I couldn’t forgive myself for staying quiet.
Being sexually assaulted changed my life, but I can’t let that define who I am. I learned that there’s no correct way to respond to something so horrible and that I should thank my body for surviving.