living in fear

[fannie71]

how does a person who was attacked get over the fear and try and live healthy

[dlhigh]

Faith is the best way.  Some people get very upset when you mention God.
This is the only answer that I know is true.
I've lived through numerous attacks on my life, beatings and rape and all I can tell you is this:
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Fear of God is wisdom.
To fear anything other than he who can destroy both body and soul, would hold you captive and you could not live.
Knowing there is a God and trusting that he holds your life in his hands.
So that when there is an appointed time for you to die, he then holds your hand when you do, lets you find life and enjoy it rather than dwell in death and despise it.

The other option the world looks to is a therapist or doctor to share your concerns with, which may also prove to be very beneficial for you.

My hope is that you find peace within, for the peace that comes without is only temporary.  Best Wishes!

[teko]

First you cry. Then, realize that the whole world is not bad. It is a wonderful place with some bad people in it. Get counseling, and sometimes it helps to help others, by volunteering to help other victims like yourself. And try to remember that time heals.  I will be praying for you!

[sheltercrow]

And what does Fannie71 do when she finds out that faith in the Lord is a crock? Man, do you want to make her ideate suicide?

Stay inside and watch plenty of Andy of Mayberry.

[Curls]

Both spiritual (of all sorts) and/or professional sources can help.  Look for help in a variety of places and keep moving on if they don't fit for you.  It often takes a while to find the therapist or other avenue that is actually helpful for you individually, especially once you've been hurt.  So, it's helpful to look at a while variety of options, and to keep moving on, and knowing that it takes a while for everyone just to find help that's right, might help.  

The process is that one needs to let the feelings (from the event and the after feelings) come up in a safe place with someone else there who can "hold" them.  It helps them lose their "energy".  The other part of the process is to actively find ways to focus life on other things so that one can remember the other parts of oneself, that aren't about this event.  For the "holding them", some people talk to a pastor or counselor, others write a book or blog or give talks on it, or turn to new-age ways to express it...  For the focusing on other parts of oneself, some therapists or friends can make your whole life about the event (not just talk a lot about it, but not relate to any other part of you), and that's not helpful either.  But almost anything can work as a way to relate back to your older grounded part of yourself, a fun activity, an unrealized passion, meditative practices, whatever feels good...  

If you can't find something over time and are into esoteric stuff, the book on Soul Retrieval by Sandra Ingerman is interesting.  It's about using old native culture shaman (medicine man) techniques to get back a part of yourself that was lost during a trauma.  When I've seen it done, it tends not to be a quick fix, but it does help move things along sometimes.  

[April2]

"Faith in the Lord is a crock". What a horrible thing to say. If she can find comfort in her faith, why not just be happy for her and leave her alone? You sound like a very angry, bitter person. How about the sarcastic tone of telling her to watch Andy of Mayberry. Maybe we all should rewatch that show. There was a certain innocence to that time. It's too bad that it's made fun of now. It's interesting. People who have no faith at all seem to be the ones who are the most hateful, angry, bitter people...like you. Maybe YOU should give it a try. Might be good for you.

[David493]

  A support group W/others who been through what you have. Contact a local social service agency /pastor/mental health practitioner. You're not alone.