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How to Support Your Friends, Family Members and Peers Facing Technology-facilitated Sexual Violence

For survivors who have experienced online and technology-facilitated sexual violence, they can undergo various reactions characterized by a flight, fight or freeze response (Katz et al., 2021; Bracha, 2014). These responses can manifest as self isolation, being argumentative, withdrawing from social events, reaching out less to their loved ones, and experiencing ongoing physical or emotional fatigue. These experiences can negatively impact their ability to reach out and ask for support, which emphasizes the importance of being compassionate and empathetic.

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In this context, the loved ones, peers and community members of survivors can reference the following list of examples to help gently open a dialogue and provide support. 

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1. Believe survivors and remind them that you care about them;

2. Offer a listening ear or quiet-time to share space;

3. Ask for the type of support(s) that they prefer;

**Supports can involve cooking their favourite meal, watching their favourite tv-show or movie with them, going for walks, helping them do laundry, dancing to music, or creating a sensory toolkit to process their emotions, among many others.

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4.  and speak up to defend them when they are belittled or shamed by others.

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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0145213420305603 

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https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cns-spectrums/article/abs/freeze-flight-fight-fright-faint-adaptationist-perspectives-on-the-acute-stress-response-spectrum/6F80B347B1414CE066821D1620D6F8B1 

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