You are viewing the article How to Recover from Rape and Sexual Assault (post-forced trauma syndrome) at Lassho.edu.vn you can quickly access the necessary information in the table of contents of the article below.
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This article has been co-written by Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP. Rebecca Tenzer is the owner and principal clinician of Astute Counseling Services, a privately held business in Chicago, Illinois. With over 18 years of clinical and teaching experience in the mental health field, Rebecca specializes in treating depression, anxiety, phobias, trauma, and interpersonal counseling by providing combines cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and evidence-based treatments. Rebecca holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from DePauw University, a master’s degree in teaching methods from Dominican University, and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago. Rebecca is a member of AmeriCorps and also a professor of psychology teaching at the university level. Rebecca is trained as a cognitive behavioral therapist (CBT), clinical trauma therapist (CCTP) and crisis counselor (CGCS). Rebecca is a member of the American Society of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the National Association of Social Workers.
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Whether you or someone you love has been raped or sexually assaulted, they can recover. People who make it through this process will typically go through three stages of recovery from rape at their own pace.
Steps
Overcoming the acute phase
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Know that you are not at fault. No matter what happened, someone else’s rape or sexual assault on you was not your fault. [1] X Trusted Source Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network Go to Source
- Don’t let your fear of being blamed stop you from sharing the situation. You are not at fault. Your body belongs to you and only you. [2] X Research Source
- Rape and sexual assault can happen to anyone, anywhere. Men are also victims. [3] X Research Sources
- You never ask for this, no matter what outfit you wear, and you’re not the only one facing it. [4] X Research Sources
- Being forced to perform sexual acts or being sexually assaulted by someone you’re dating is still considered rape, regardless of whether you know them and are dating them. You can still be in a romantic relationship with someone and be forced to have sex when you don’t want to, even if it’s not an act of violence. More than half of all rapes are from someone you know. [5] X Research Sources
- Drinking or using drugs is not a good excuse for someone to rape you. Drunk can make it difficult for you to control yourself and increase your tendencies to violence. Drugs and alcohol will also reduce your ability to seek help. No matter who is drinking or taking drugs, there are no laws that allow them to sexually assault you. [6] X Research Source
- If you’re a man and your penis was erect during the rape, you shouldn’t be ashamed or guilty as if you enjoyed it. An erection is just a physical response to stimulation even when you don’t want it and aren’t interested. You are not asking for this. [7] X Research Sources
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Call for emergency help. If you are in danger or seriously injured, you should call emergency services. Your safety is the highest priority.
- In Vietnam, you should call 113.
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Do not bathe, wash, or change clothes. You’ll want to remove any traces of the culprit, but it’s best to wait. [8] X Research Sources
- Any bodily fluids or hair samples from the attacker left on you will be used as evidence, if you decide to prosecute.
- Washing your face, bathing, or changing clothes will remove important evidence.
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Seek medical help. You should go to the hospital and inform staff that you have been raped and let them know if you have had vaginal or anal penetration. [9] X Research Source
- With your permission, specially trained staff will conduct a “forensic examination” and use a “rape investigation kit” to collect hair and fluid samples for forensic evidence. . Their training will ensure that they understand your needs and feelings in this bad time, and they will try to make the process as pleasant as possible. [10] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source
- You need to be tested and/or treated for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies. Treatment will include emergency contraception as well as preventive medicine to prevent infection. [11] X Trusted Source Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network Go to source
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Notify staff if you suspect you have been drugged or raped while under the influence of alcohol. [12] X Research Source
- If you think a rape drug has been used, you should not urinate until you get to the hospital, as they will ask you for a urine sample to test for Rohypnp and the medications taken. to rape another.
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Call the hotline. In the US, you can phone the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or contact them online, their specially trained staff will guide you about where to go and what to do. [13] X Trusted Source Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network Go to the source In Vietnam, you can call 113.
- Many sexual assault centers will provide trained staff with you to the hospital, or to a medical appointment, so you don’t have to go it alone.
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Consider calling the police to report the incident. This action will help you bring the perpetrator to justice and prevent him from harming anyone else. [14] X Research Source
- If you suspect you have been drugged, you should keep the cup or bottle you drank from, if possible. Anesthesia testing will be conducted to determine drug use and provide evidence that may be used in the future.
- The common rape drug isn’t Rohypnp – it’s alcohol. You should report to the police if alcohol or drugs are involved. Even if you completely volunteered to use them before being raped, it’s not your fault. [15] X Research Source
- Reporting to the police will also be psychologically beneficial in helping you transition from victim to survivor.
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If time has passed, do not hesitate to take action. Even if 72 hours have passed since you were raped, you should still contact the police, helplines, and medical professionals. [16] X Research Source
- Body fluids should be collected within 72 hours of the attack. Even if you’re not sure if you’re going to prosecute the person, it’s a good idea to gather evidence so you can always use it when you need it. [17] X Trusted Source Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network Go to source
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Patience through emotional trauma. You have experienced shock, depression, anxiety, fear, increased vigilance, and nightmares. This is completely normal and you will soon feel better. [18] X Research Sources
- Survivors will also experience feelings of guilt and shame, eating and sleeping disorders, and difficulty concentrating.
- The trauma experienced by survivors of rape and sexual assault is in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Understand that physical symptoms will appear. You may feel pain, multiple cuts, bruises, internal injuries, or discomfort after being attacked. They are painful reminders but pass quickly. [19] X Research Source
- You should move gently for a while, until the pain and bruising have gone. [20] X Research Source
- Try soaking in a hot tub, meditating, or doing another relaxation technique that works for you.
Adjust external response
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Face times of denial and repression. Denying and suppressing sensations is a natural part of the second stage of the healing process, known as the Outer Adjustment stage. They play a significant role in coping and healing. [21] X Research Source
- Survivors will often go through a phase of acting as if the assailant didn’t affect their lives, and it was all just a bad sexual experience. The act of denial and restraint is called minimization and it is a common response to help you get on with life in the short term. [22] X Research Source
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Try to get back to your life. Survivors need to restore a sense of normalcy in life. [23] X Research Sources
- This part of the Outer Adjustment phase is called exclusion and allows you to act as if the attack didn’t happen, even though you still feel chaotic inside. Similar to the minimization part of this phase, it will allow you to get on with your life for a short period of time.
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Chat about it, if you want and can. You will feel like you need to talk about your attack and your restless feelings, with family, friends, a helpline, and a therapist. This is a coping technique called dramatization, but it doesn’t mean you’re “making a big deal.” [24] X Research Source
- It probably feels like trauma has taken over your entire life and changed your identity, especially if all you can and want to do is talk about it. It is natural to want to confide in.
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Allow yourself to analyze it. Sometimes survivors want to analyze what happened and try to explain it to themselves or others. You can even put yourself in the perpetrator’s shoes to see what he’s thinking. [25] X Research Sources
- This doesn’t mean you’re sympathizing with the person or making excuses for his behavior, so you don’t have to feel guilty if you find yourself going through this phase.
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No need to talk about it if you don’t want to. You have the right not to share about the attack if you don’t want to, even if you know well that your family and friends are just trying to help you by advising you to talk about the problem. [26] X Research Sources
- Occasionally, survivors may change jobs, move to another city, or make new friends to avoid emotional triggers and avoid having to talk about the incident. Not everyone needs this. This part is called running away because many people want to escape from the pain. [27] X Research Source
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Allow yourself to feel how you feel. The depression, anxiety, fear, increased vigilance, nightmares, and anger you experience are common symptoms of sexual assault. [28] X Research Sources
- During this process, you will not want to leave the house, have trouble eating and sleeping, and separate yourself from people and society.
Life reorganization in the long run
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Let the pain pass. During the third and final stages of the trauma of rape, survivors often find that memories of the event keep flooding back and they are no longer able to suppress them. This is when the real healing process begins. [29] X Research Sources
- Your flashbacks can be so powerful that they interfere with your life. This is a response to post-traumatic stress and to coercion.
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Know that things will get better. This is often a period when survivors will feel confused, constantly reminisce, and have suicidal thoughts. No matter how bad the feeling is, this is the time when you can start to incorporate the past into your new reality and move on with your life. [30] X Research Source
- At some point, you will accept that being raped is a part of your life and move on. [31] X Research Source
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Find family and friends. This is the right time for you to regain your sense of security, trust, and control, and you need to get in touch with people for this to happen. [32] X Research Source
- Choose when, where, and with whom you share your violent experiences. Be with people who support you, and set boundaries by only discussing what you’re comfortable with. [33] X Research Sources
- You have the right to tell everyone you want about the attack. Sometimes, the perpetrator will threaten future violence if you talk about the incident, but the only way to stop it is to talk about it.
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Seek expert help. A counselor trained in dealing with the trauma of rape and sexual assault will be empathetic and help you process your feelings.
- You can find counseling through sexual assault support websites.
- In addition, there are also quite a number of specific therapy group gatherings and even live chat rooms for survivors. You should look for the method that works for you. [34] X Research Source
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Allow yourself time to recover. It can take months, or even years, to recover. [35] X Research Source
- Over time, you will redefine yourself, your worldview, and your relationships. Be kind to yourself and don’t expect to recover overnight.
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Get help in litigation. If you don’t know what to do next, you should call your local crisis center for assistance. Their staff has been trained to guide you through the process and can attend meetings and convenings with you if you wish. [36] X Trusted Source Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network Go to Source
- You don’t have to prosecute if you don’t want to. The police can also warn the offender to prevent him from doing the same act again. [37] X Research Source
- You may be able to get financial assistance for some costs related to time off work, going to court, finding a counselor, etc. You should check with your area crisis center to learn more. information. [38] X Trusted Source Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network Go to source
- Many centers are affiliated with a public service, or offer free legal aid to someone who has experienced sexual assault. Here, support staff will be there to accompany you to a lawyer or to court.
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Know the law. There is no statute of limitations for filing a sexual assault lawsuit, which means that even if the incident took place months or years ago, you can still report it to the police. [39] X Research Sources
- If you choose to prosecute the perpetrator and you require immediate medical attention after being raped, there is a good chance that evidence has already been collected.
- If a doctor or nurse uses a “rape investigation kit” or conducts a “forensic examination”, the evidence will be carefully kept on file for the police to review. [40] X Trusted Source Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network Go to source
Advice
- Recovering doesn’t mean you’ll forget everything, and you’ll never experience feelings of sadness or other symptoms. Recovery is a personal journey where you will come back to life, regain a sense of trust and security, and forgive yourself for any mistakes or self-blame. [41] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source
- You don’t have to go through every stage in a particular order. Each survivor’s journey to recovery is different and fluctuates between coping mechanisms.
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This article has been co-written by Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP. Rebecca Tenzer is the owner and principal clinician of Astute Counseling Services, a privately held business in Chicago, Illinois. With over 18 years of clinical and teaching experience in the mental health field, Rebecca specializes in treating depression, anxiety, phobias, trauma, and interpersonal counseling by providing combines cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and evidence-based treatments. Rebecca holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from DePauw University, a master’s degree in teaching methods from Dominican University, and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago. Rebecca is a member of AmeriCorps and also a professor of psychology teaching at the university level. Rebecca is trained as a cognitive behavioral therapist (CBT), clinical trauma therapist (CCTP) and crisis counselor (CGCS). Rebecca is a member of the American Society of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the National Association of Social Workers.
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Whether you or someone you love has been raped or sexually assaulted, they can recover. People who make it through this process will typically go through three stages of recovery from rape at their own pace.
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