How To Confront Someone Who Sexually Assaulted You

If you or someone you lot know experienced sexual assault, you lot're not lonely. In that location are resources that can help yous heal and offer support for both survivors and people close to them.

What should I do if I was raped?

If yous've been raped or assaulted, you don't have to go through this lone.

Remember:

• Information technology's not your fault. You may exist feeling a range of emotions, only whatsoever y'all feel, know that what happened wasn't your mistake. It was 100% their error. Don't arraign yourself for annihilation you did or didn't practise.

• Make certain you're safe. Get to a safety place or phone call a friend who can help you. If you lot're in immediate danger, call 911. If the person who assaulted you lot is a family member or someone you know, tell someone you trust what happened.

• Once y'all're in a safe identify, don't do anything to modify your appearance. You lot don't take to decide correct away if you lot're going to talk with the law about what happened or printing charges against the person who assaulted y'all. Just just in example yous practise, it's of import that the doctor or nurse you visit can collect any evidence that might be on your body. So don't have a shower or bath or wash off whatsoever parts of your trunk. Also if you tin, don't go to the bathroom, rummage your hair, eat, smoke, potable or take any drugs. If you change your clothes, take the apparel you were wearing during the assault to the infirmary or constabulary section in a paper bag.

• Get medical intendance. The staff at your local Planned Parenthood health center tin help you effigy out your options:

  • If y'all have injuries, or want to have a rape kit done to collect evidence in instance y'all make up one's mind to file charges someday, yous should go to the hospital right away.

  • If you're worried about having been exposed to HIV, y'all can take a medicine called PEP (Postal service-Exposure Prophylaxis) which tin can help prevent getting HIV after existence exposed. You lot need to outset this treatment inside 72 hours of existence exposed.

  • If there's a take a chance you could be pregnant, consider taking the morning-later pill, too known as emergency contraception. You need to have it inside v days after unprotected sex.

  • If y'all're worried nearly STDs, it's a adept thought to get tested. Most people don't show whatsoever symptoms, so even if you don't have whatsoever signs of an STD, testing is important.

• Find support. Dealing with the backwash of rape or sexual assail can be overwhelming. Only y'all're not alone. It may help to talk to a trusted friend, family member, or counselor.

• Seek out resource. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) has a 24-hour, 7-twenty-four hour period a week support line you can reach over the phone or by online chat.

• Think about talking to the constabulary. Sexual assault is a crime and you lot have the right to report information technology to the police and press charges against the person who assaulted you — if you lot want to. You tin can call the police yourself, or have a rape crunch counselor or someone you trust do it for you. The police will come and ask you questions, and they'll also talk to yous most whether or not y'all want to press charges. Police tin also assistance get y'all to a doctor or nurse for an exam as before long equally possible. The conclusion to call the police or non is yours to brand, and non everyone decides calling the police is right for them.

The just fourth dimension this isn't true is if you are a modest (younger than the age of consent in your state) and you tell someone like a teacher, counselor, or doctor who is a mandated reporter. This means that they have to call the police no thing if you lot want them to or non, according to laws that protect minors.

How can I back up someone who was raped?

Rape or sexual assault can be a traumatic, life-changing event. Sadly, chances are that you or someone close to you volition experience it during the course of your life. Here are some tips for supporting someone who tells you they've been sexually assaulted or raped.

• Listen. Believe them. Remind them that they're not alone. Don't judge or blame them for what happened. Remember that the blame is on the person who commits the assault, and non on the victim.

• Encourage them to get assist. Encourage them to go to the infirmary or a nearby Planned Parenthood health center for medical attention ASAP. You can offer to drive them or get with them. And for the long term, talking with a licensed advisor or therapist most what happened, or joining a community support group can help your friend procedure what happened and heal. Your nearest Planned Parenthood wellness center tin connect y'all with services in your expanse.

• Don't pressure them. It's upward to your friend to determine if they want to report the assault to the police or authorities. If they exercise make up one's mind to report information technology, you can assist by offer to be there with them.

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Source: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/relationships/sexual-consent/what-should-i-do-if-i-or-someone-i-know-was-sexually-assaulted

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