Survivors Speak Out: The Lasting Trauma of Nonconsensual Strangulation

In the past few years, a disturbing trend has emerged among young people: the practice of strangulation during sex. A new study found that more than half of individuals under the age of 35 have experienced this, with some as young as 16 having seen it in porn and on social media.

The stories of survivors like Sophie, Carrie, and Laura paint a harrowing picture. Sophie, now 21, recounts waking up on the floor after a seizure caused by a man strangling her during a consensual encounter. Carrie, in her early 20s, was repeatedly strangled by an older partner, leaving her mentally "slow" for days afterward. Laura, in her 30s, suffered multiple instances of strangulation over a decade-long relationship, resulting in lasting memory issues and fatigue.