Responding to sexual assault
How a victim feels after a sexual assault
While every victim's reaction to a sexual assault is different, some common reponses include:
- feeling numb and shocked
- feeling angry and irritable
- feeling 'out of control'
- finding it hard to concentrate
- feeling dirty
- feeling guilty and embarrassed
- thinking "did this really happen to me?"
- not wanting to eat or eating too much
- not sleeping, having nightmares and flashbacks.
How to respond when someone tells you they have been sexually assaulted
When a victim tells someone that they have been sexually assaulted, the response they get has a direct affect on how well they recover. A person is far more likely move from 'victim' to 'survivor' if they get an appropriate, supportive response.
If someone tells you that they have been sexual assaulted, respond clearly. Let them know that you believe them, that it is not their fault and that they are not alone. For example:
- "I believe what you have told me."
- "This is not your fault. You are not to blame."
- "What can I do to help you feel safe here?"
Decision-making
It is vital that a victim of sexual assault is given as much control over decision-making as possible – control over deciding who to tell about the assault and what to do next.
If the victim wishes to discuss the options available to them, then contacting the local sexual assault service is strongly recommended. The service can:
- provide specialist crisis and ongoing counselling
- discuss with the victim the option of going to the police and conduct forensic examinations if they chose to
- provide court support if needed.