is it normal to realize you were sexually assaulted years later?

Question

recently i’ve been thinking about things that have happened in the past to make me how i am today. i thought back to two major incidents that have happened with men 3 years ago and 7 years ago (i was young and naive at the time) but the strange thing now is that i only realized recently that it was in fact sexual assault. is it normal to process and cry over that so much later?
also if you have any advice to help me deal with this that would be much appreciated.

Answer

There was a lot of things that happened when i was younger i didnt see it as assault or anything because at 12 i suffered a severe gang rape and.i guess everything else just didnt feel like that.It wasnt until i spoke to counsellors who informed me even if.i didnt see it as full rape it was definitely assault. Looking back i mostly agree i still have times where i have to remind myself that just because i verbally didnt say no or fight i also did not consent and going along with.something out of fear isnt the same as consent. Now everytime i think of things i feel like crying cause i realise how much bad stuff happened and yeah.... sometimes it takes years to believe or accept it was assault but that doesnt invalidate ur feelings just because u realised a lot longer down the line

Answer

Acknowledge it let the pain and tears out.  Then move forward.  Don’t let it define you or home you captive.  Completely ok to let it make you sad and you may never completely stop having those sad violated feelings but you dont have to plant your heart there and live there the rest of your life. It happened and it’s wrong and terrible but it happened to you YOU did NOT do anything to be ashamed of.  Keep your head up and find your best life girl.  Don’t let it define you or hold you hostage

Answer

It took me almost a year to remember/accept what had happened to me. Our brain can somehow hide trauma away from us for a while to protect us and show us at a later time. It’s strange how that works but remembering is hard. The time in between for me is somewhat of a blur. I describe it as almost like I was in a zombie state of mind. Nothing seemed to affect me and I couldn’t look in the mirror. I gained a lot of weight and didn’t even recognize myself in the mirror once I remembered. It’s somewhat normal. It’s nothing you could have controlled. Everyone reacts differently to trauma. Sorry this happen to you.

is it normal to realize you were sexually assaulted years later?

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