One way of relieving these suppressed feelings is by daydreaming. She may do things that she would not ordinarily do, just to prove to herself that she is not afraid and can still do whatever she wants. Eventually, a woman realizes that she cannot go on without facing these feelings and dealing with the reality of the situation. She may drastically change her lifestyle at this point by moving, getting a dog, acquiring a roommate or lover, or by limiting her physical activity. There is generally one part of the trauma that she must resolve and it is often the most difficult and painful to deal with.
Most rape victims experience strong feelings of guilt.
This feeling of guitl is three-fold in it's origin. What's more, many women are confronted with that kind of reaction by their husbands, parents, or others who tend to blame the victim for what has happened to her. It is twice as frightening to admit that the rape happened as a result of chance and that it could happen again with no provocation what so ever on her part. This lack of control is too difficult for many rape victims to deal with. The victim has a real need to regain control therefore, feeling guilty about what she might have done wrong fullfills this purpose.