Breaking the Silence: Raw Truths About Sexual Assault Every Woman Needs to Know

As a mindshift coach who specializes in helping women recognize their power, I find that some of the most important conversations are the ones society tries to silence. In my recent podcast episode, I sat down with Stephanie Jane, a sexual assault survivor and advocate who works with rape victims in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Our discussion was raw, unfiltered, and exactly what young women need to hear.

THE REALITY BEHIND THE STATISTICS

Let's start with some hard truths. In America, 25% of women will be sexually assaulted. When you include child sexual abuse, that number jumps to 44%. But as I emphasized during our conversation, "Although those numbers are accurate, they're only accurate according to what's been reported. So the real numbers are probably doubled."

This isn't about fear-mongering. This is about awareness. You cannot protect yourself from what you don't understand, and many young women simply don't recognize the warning signs until it's too late.

THE DATE RAPE TRUTH NO ONE TALKS ABOUT

"Alcohol is the number one date rape drug," Stephanie Jane revealed during our conversation. I made her repeat this crucial point three times because it's something every woman needs to burn into her memory.

It's not always roofies or other drugs that predators use. "They just need to get your ass drunk, and then they could take advantage of you because it's real easy. That's the fact," I emphasized. On college campuses across America, this is happening with alarming frequency, and most cases go unreported.

If you've ever woken up unable to remember parts of your night, with unexplained pain or in an unfamiliar place, these are warning signs that shouldn't be ignored.

CONSENT IS NON-NEGOTIABLE

One of the most powerful moments in our conversation was when Stephanie shared her own experience of being manipulated into a sexual encounter in junior high school: "He didn't have to force himself on me. I wasn't comfortable with the situation. I'd said no a few times, and he manipulated me in ways."

We both agreed on this truth: "Rape isn't about sex. Rape is about power and them taking power and control over you."

If you didn't enthusiastically agree to have sex, if you were manipulated, if you were under the influence – that's rape. Period.

RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS IN YOURSELF AND OTHERS

How can you tell if someone you know has been sexually assaulted? Watch for these changes:

• Sudden weight gain or loss
• Changes in eating habits
• Unexplained bruises
• New fears and anxieties
• Depression
• Loss of interest in appearance
• Becoming standoffish about physical contact
• Overcompensation and masking behaviors

"When someone has overpowered you, that leaves you in such a traumatic state that there will be definite signs," Stephanie explained.

I added that fear is a particularly telling indicator: "Look for fears, new fears, or increased fears, or illogical fears. There's a reason why they pop up and they weren't there before."

REDUCING THE VICTIM POOL

One of the most powerful points I made during our conversation was this: "The best way to combat against rape, against trafficking, against molestation... The best way to reduce the victim pool is by building up women and making sure they know who they are."

This is the core of my work as The MindShifter. When women and girls know their worth, they become harder targets for manipulators and predators.

"When we don't know who we are, we are the best targets for every manipulator, every piece of crap asshole who wants to control you," I stated bluntly. This knowledge isn't just empowering – it's protective.

YOUR MINDSHIFTING MOMENT

Take a moment right now to reflect: Where in your life are you giving away your power? Where are you accepting treatment that diminishes who you are? Your first line of defense against becoming a victim is knowing your worth and refusing to let anyone take your power from you.

If you've already experienced assault, know this: your worth was never diminished by what happened to you. The path to healing begins with reclaiming your power and recognizing that you deserve safety, respect, and love.