This information was written to help you understand and begin to work through the many emotions and concerns you may experience in the aftermath of your rape or sexual assault experience. It is meant to help you understand the facts surrounding sexual assault and how you as a survivor, can begin the recovery process. Although this process is often slow and confusing, it can be accomplished through understanding, persistence and realizing that everyone around you will react in different ways. Some of those ways may seem strange to you. The range of reaction can go from blame to full support for your experience.
Most people fall in the middle somewhere.
The reaction of others may not always be what you anticipate it should be. It has been our experience that those individuals who have the reassurance and support of friends, family or significant others, report the experience of the assault to be much easier to cope with. This can greatly impact on the healing process. A decision to share your experience is a personal choice. In addition to friends, family and loved ones, there are also professional counselors and rape crisis center personnel that can be of assistance to you.