Jodie Sweetin Reveals She Was Sexually Assaulted -- Stands By Dr. Christine Ford Against Kavanaugh

Jodie Sweetin has revealed she was sexually assaulted as a child.

The "Fuller House" actress shared a heartbreaking and eloquent post to Instagram in support of sexual assault survivors and the brave testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh Thursday.

The former child star wrote of the challenges facing women and children who have survived assault and her own struggle with the silencing power of shame promulgated by a culture that does not believe victims.

"I stand with her. I AM her. I was the girl who never reported because I blamed myself. I was the woman who never reported because I didn't want to go through the pain and ridicule. The same sort of pain that I witnessed Dr Christine Blasey Ford walk through today," Sweetin began.

"What we saw today is about a much bigger issue of survivors of sexual assault being persecuted, judged and re-traumatized when they do come forward. We are told that if it were 'real', we would have reported it at the time. Often when we were merely children or young girls. Girls who were assaulted and then had 'whore' written on lockers because rumors spread."

"Girls who were afraid of becoming a pariah in their social circles because they told the truth. It was easier to stay quiet. And as we grew older and it happened again, we had been trained to remain silent. We had learned the lesson that no one will believe us," she continued. "That even if someone DOES, it holds no consequence. We had watched other women come forward, only to be told 'there were no witnesses, so it's your word against his', knowing that 'his' story is always more believed than 'hers'."

"This isn't about politics for me. This is about a panel of people brushing aside someone's trauma," she concluded. "I will not sit still. I will not stay quiet. Although I may never be as brave or as unflinching in the face of such an inquisition as she was today, it has given me hope. That maybe, just maybe, female survivors of sexual assault may be heard. Even if our voice is barely above a whisper. #imwithher #listentoyourwomen #tellyourtruth #ihearyou".

Sweetin received support from her "Full House" costar John Stamos, who wrote in the comments on her post: "PROUD OF YOU JODIE! And love you. You continue to be an inspiration to me and many others. Thank you, Uncle J".

Andrea Barber, from "Fuller House," and Sweetin's "Hollywood Darlings" co-star Beverley Mitchell also showed support on the Instagram posting.

Dr. Ford appeared in public for the first time Thursday morning to testify on her allegations against Kavanaugh. She told lawmakers that the Supreme Court nominee "sexually assaulted" her and insisted she was not mistaking him for another person.

Ford -- a California-based professor and psychologist -- wrote a confidential letter to a senior Democratic lawmaker earlier this summer, describing an alleged sexual assault she had endured at the hands of Kavanaugh more than three decades ago when the two were high school students at Georgetown Preparatory School in Maryland.

Last week, Ford came forward publicly with the accusations of "attempted rape" in an article published by The Washington Post.

If you or anyone you know, including children, have been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Trained staff will provide confidential, judgement-free support and connect you to local resources for recovery, justice, and healing.