There are services to turn to for support and advice. Women and men react to rape or sexual assault in many different ways. Many people feel guilty about what has been done to them, that they should have been able to stop it from happening. You may be feeling shocked, distressed, angry calm or maybe even completely numb. Any reaction that you have is valid and it is important that you get the support and help that feels right for you to cope with this.
People often lose their feelings of safety and trust.
You may be feelings quite isolated and not want to tell anyone about what has happened, you may feel unsure about ringing an agency for help and support. However, there are specialist organisations and services available with people who are trained in working around rape and sexual assault who you could turn to for support. There are many services that can help you get the support that you feel you need. The resource list at the back of this leaflet contains information about a wide variety of organisations. It may be that you feel the need to talk to someone in confidence about what has happened, knowing that you will be listened to, understood and where you can explore your feelings at your own pace.