How To Help Someone Recover From A Rape or Sexual Assault:
Your friend or loved one has been attacked and violated in one of the most horrifying of ways. You feel powerless, angry, and unsure of what to do next.
Here are some tips for helping a loved one recover from a sexual assault:
Right After The Sexual Assault:
Encourage your friend to see a doctor and receive proper medical attention after a sexual assault. He or she may need treatment for STDs or pregnancy testing after the assault.
Encourage - but do not pressure - your friend to report the attack. If your friend does not want to report the rape, respect that decision as his or hers to make.
Encourage - but do not pressure - your friend to report the attack. If your friend does not want to report the rape, respect that decision as his or hers to make.
Shortly After The Rape:
Listen, listen, listen to your friend who has been raped. He or she may try to go over and over the assault, replaying it in his or her mind. Listen without judgement as often as your friend would like.
Assure your loved one that he or she is not to blame for the rape. Expect to do this often as your loved one tries to work out why he or she was the victim of sexual assault.
Reassure your friend or loved one that you will be by their side no matter what. Your door is always open and you're always just a phone call away.
Reassure your loved one that no one "deserves" to be sexually violated or raped.
Assure your loved one that he or she is not to blame for the rape. Expect to do this often as your loved one tries to work out why he or she was the victim of sexual assault.
Reassure your friend or loved one that you will be by their side no matter what. Your door is always open and you're always just a phone call away.
Reassure your loved one that no one "deserves" to be sexually violated or raped.
