Volunteering with survivors.

I'm a rape survivor myself and recently I joined a charity that ends sex trafficking for young girls.

These girls (usually about 13-16 years old) have gone through what is basically rape every night of their lives for years and years. A lot of them having went to police for help and ended up in jail because the police consider them to be prostitutes, when in actuality they are victims.

I have only been raped a couple of times in my life, but I can't imagine being forced into a lifestyle like that and having to be stuck in it for years and not being able to get help from anyone.

Anyway, because I am a rape survivor their stories really trigger me and I often go home feeling worse about the whole thing. I feel so hateful because I understand how they are feeling and I feel disgusted that people out there are hurting them like that. It literally makes me sick to my stomach.

I'm very passionate about this cause, I truly want to help, but I don't know if I can handle all of these triggers.

Is it wise for me to stick with the charity even though it triggers me so?

That's a really amazing thing to be doing xx

You do need to remember to put your own health to the top of the list though..
If you're being triggered more than you can handle.. is there someone at work that you can have a chat with about this..?
It may well be that they're able to offer you some counselling.. most people in therapeutic roles like therapists or psychologists end up having at least a bit of counselling themselves due to the intense nature of their work and the stories they hear each day.
I think it's actually a requirement in many of the therapeutic roles that you have some before you start work just so any underlying issues can be helped with. It's a really difficult field to be in and it's so so important to take care of people so they can take care of others.
Or if you can't access it through work, have a think about getting some counselling through your doctor or local services.

alternatively, could they shift where you work a bit so that you're doing more paperwork and less face to face contact with these girls.?

xx