What to Do if You Know Someone Is Being Sexually Abused

At that place are many reactions that survivors of rape and sexual attack — or sexual corruption as a child — can experience. For traumatic events in full general, it is important to know there is not one "standard" reaction to the trauma of sexual abuse. Some people answer immediately, while others take delayed reactions — sometimes months or even years later. Some have adverse effects for a long period of time, while others recover rather chop-chop. Reactions can modify over time.

Some who have suffered from trauma find the energy to help others with the claiming of coping, only to later become discouraged or depressed. The impact of sexual corruption and assault will be unlike for each person and may occur on several levels — physically, emotionally, spiritually, economically and mentally.

Survivors may experience some of the following responses:

• Fear responses to reminders of the abuse or assault
• Pervading sense of anxiety, wondering whether it is possible to ever feel safe again
• Re-experiencing abuse/set on over and over again through flashbacks
• Problems concentrating and staying focused on the task at mitt
• Guilt feelings
• Developing a negative cocky-prototype, feeling "dirty" within or out
• Acrimony
• Depression
• Disruptions in shut relationships
• Loss of involvement in sex

What Should You lot Exercise?

In that location are several things you can practise to assistance in the healing process and provide the support your friend, family or loved 1 may need.

• First and foremost, believe the survivor and have what y'all hear without judgment. Recognize the person has experienced trauma and, as a family member or friend, information technology's essential to listen and provide back up without judgment.
• Respect the survivor'southward right to determine whether or not to study the assault to the law or to accept a forensic medical exam.
• Reinforce to the survivor that it is not their fault. Sexual assault is never the survivor'southward fault. It is important not to ask "why" questions, such as "Why were y'all in that area at that time?" that suggest that she or he is to blame for the assail.
• Sympathize that you cannot control how the survivor feels or "fix" the problem. Anybody reacts differently to sexual set on and heals at her or his own step. It is important that y'all not assume yous know how she or he is feeling — almost any reaction is possible and completely normal.
• Exist a good listener and be patient. Allow the survivor know you lot are there for her or him when she or he is fix to talk. When and if the survivor does want to talk well-nigh the abuse/assail, do not push for information. Let her or him tell you what she or he is comfortable sharing in her or his ain time.
• Help the survivor regain a sense of control over her or his life. Back up decisions and choices the survivor makes without passing judgment. Try not to tell the survivor what to do; instead, assist by presenting options and resources for her or him to make the conclusion that is right for her or him.
• Respect the survivor's demand for privacy. If the survivor needs to exist alone, respect that decision.
• Do not suggest that the survivor "move on" with her or his life and forget most the rape, set on or abuse. The survivor needs the opportunity to work through the trauma of the assail and brainstorm the healing process. At that place are both immediate and long-term effects of sexual abuse. The healing process will exist different for every private.

Call back to have intendance of yourself — seek back up if yous need it. If y'all have care of yourself, you volition be better able to support the victim/survivor. Your local rape crisis heart will take resource for friends and families who care for survivors.

• Tips for talking with survivors of sexual assault from Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, as well as 24/7 phone and online hotline with secure, anonymous, confidential crunch support for victims of sexual assault and their friends and families. 800-656-4673
• Information about sexual assault and rape from the U.South. Section of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health
• Overview of sexual violence from the Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention
• Online helpline, chat and phone helpline from National Eye for Victims of Crime
• Back up and resource for male victims of sexual attack from MaleSurvivor
• Helpline for male victims of sexual assault from 1in6
• Resource, materials and other information from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center

If you lot accept simply been sexually assaulted, hither are some suggestions:

• Go to a place where y'all experience safe.
• Know that the set on is non your fault.
• Reach out for support. Telephone call someone you trust, such every bit a friend or a family fellow member. You are not alone; there are people who can requite you lot the support yous need.
• Telephone call RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-Hope. Your call is free and is anonymous and confidential and you volition be directly connected to the closest participating rape crunch eye in your surface area.
• It is important to seek medical attending equally before long every bit possible. Equally an developed, you can choose non to take a medical and/or a forensic exam. Medical care is of import to address any injuries yous may accept, to collect evidence and to protect confronting sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.
• Phone call 9-one-one and report the incident to police. Reporting the incident to police every bit soon as possible gives you the all-time chance at holding the perpetrator answerable.

All victims of sexual set on or abuse should be treated with dignity and respect and not be judged based on race, age, form, gender, ability/inability, sexual orientation or gender identity. All victims should be considered victims of sexual assault, regardless of the offender's human relationship to them.

If you are over 18, you accept the right to —

• Have medical care/a medical examination.
• Study the assault to the constabulary.
• Privacy regarding the sexual attack, your sexual orientation, sexual history, medical history (including HIV status) and mental health history.
• Have confidential conversations with a sexual attack counselor/advocate.
• Have a sexual assail counselor/advocate back-trail you to medical, law enforcement and legal proceedings.
• Enquire questions and get answers regarding any tests, exams, medications, treatments or police reports.

When reporting a sexual assault to the law —

• Try not to bathe, shower, modify your clothes, consume, drink, fume, irrigate or urinate before the examination.
• Seek medical attention for an test and evidence collection as soon as possible afterwards the assail.
• Bring a change of clothes with you.
• Piece of work with a sexual set on advisor/advocate during your medical test.

If y'all are non an adult (and this may change from state to state), so your disclosure may trigger a written report to the authorities. The purpose of this report is to protect you and others, and to go help for you and your family. More than data can be found in the resources below.

As a survivor of sexual attack, you may experience some or all of these feelings —

• Anger, fear, guilt
• Loss of command, powerlessness, embarrassment
• Depression, isolation, denial
• Shame, disbelief, self-blame, emotional shock

This complex set up of feelings is common and every survivor of sexual assault responds differently. Remember, you lot are not lonely, you are non to blame for what happened and at that place are people who are in that location to help.

The national contacts below are available for anyone seeking information and resources almost sexual abuse. In an emergency, dial ix-1-1 for local assist immediately.

• Rape, Corruption & Incest National Network
  Telephone and online hotlines are available 24/seven, and offer secure, anonymous, confidential crisis support for victims of sexual assault and their friends and families. 800-656-4673 (toll-free National Sexual Assault Hotline)
• National Center for Victims of Crime
  Phone and online helplines provide supportive counseling, practical data about crime and victimization and referrals to local community resources, as well as advancement in the criminal justice and social service systems. 855-four-VICTIM
• Office on Women'southward Health
  Data on sexual assault, how to respond and how to preclude it, including resource for victims and survivors.
• MaleSurvivor
  Back up and resources for male victims of sexual assault, including therapist referrals and peer support.
• 1in6
  Helpline for male person victims of sexual assault, also as online peer support groups.
• National Sexual Violence Resource Eye
  Resources, materials and other data to help individuals and organizations prevent and answer to sexual violence. 717-909-0710; price-gratuitous: 877-739-3895; TDD: 717-909-0715

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Source: https://www.nsopw.gov/en/SafetyAndEducation/HowToRespond

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