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My sexual assault is affecting my boyfriend and our relationship

User Profile: AE2xU
AE2xU July 2nd, 2015

Almost two years ago today (a week after my boyfriend and I hadbrokenup),Iwas sexually abused at a drunken college party by someone I knew. Despite the break-up my (ex) boyfriend showed up at the party where he found me passed outin the bathroom and carried me out. After that week we remained apart and went our separate ways. We never discussed what happened at the party, I never sought professional help, and finally let go of my self-blame and guilt after weeks of confiding in friends and over the last couple years. Three months after the event we got back together, almost 1 1/2 years ago now. Our physical relationship has never been quite the same. Just a few days ago I confronted him about this, as I have before but this time I demanded to know why he didn't have the same desire for sex, even if I didn't want to hear it. I never thought he would've brought up what happened at that party. But he told me that after finding me in the bathroom and hearing what had happened to me, he has always felt guilt for not getting there sooner and anger at the guy who took advantage of me. To him the event replays in his head whenever we attempt any kind of intimacy. I really have no idea how to help him. I've been able to work through my own emotions and fears and reactions with the help of my friends. But he's never moved passed what happened and has let it affect our relationship unbeknownst to me for a year and a half now.

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User Profile: justRon55
justRon55 July 2nd, 2015

Did you and your bf talked about him seeking professional help?

User Profile: Gilles
Gilles September 26th, 2015

Hello AE2xU,

I don't know if you agree with me but I think that we are all different and that none of others' reactions has to be judged only because we dealt with things another way. Maybe what happened to you and the fact that he could not help you earlier has triggered some of your BF 's past? Maybe you could quite easily overcome what happened to you because you could quickly vent to good friends, while he kept it all for him and never could vent to anyone? There could be so many more reasons why you could deal with that and he could not.

I agree with justRon55, probably seeking external help for a little while could be a good solution. 1-on-1 therapy, or why not couple therapy, could make you understand each other better on that precise point, what do you think?

I wish you and your boyfriend the very best, please take great care,

Gilles