Terri Ramsey Beavers It is needless to say that the healing procedure after being sexually assaulted is definitely a traumatic and challenging journey.
From ensuring your safety to developing long-term coping skills, it is not really easy to get on with the recovery process.
Not to mention, the trauma of being assaulted sexually can end up harassing you not only physically but also emotionally.
You should know that the first step towards the recovery process is to accept that it is okay to feel that way.
That being said, here are some of the things you can try to seek help if you are a victim of sexual assault. Read on to learn more about how to deal with the aftermath of such a traumatic situation the right way.
- Analyze your legal options
Believe it or not, 70% of the sexual assaults are committed by mutual friends, family members, or co-workers.
That’s one of the prominent reasons why many sexual assault survivors are adamant about reporting such a hideous crime. And even if they do, they might feel confused thereafter.
The survivors are often plagued with shame, depression, anxiety, and worse of all, fear.
You should know that having legal professionals by your side means that there’s someone who has your back during the trials and can help you find justice. Not to mention, a personal injury lawyer can also help you get compensation for your injuries resulting from the assault.
So, tell your story to the legal professionals and see what advice they have to offer. You’ll be surprised to see how seamless the entire process gets once you know what your legal rights and options are.
- Don’t feel embarrassed to reach out for support
According to psychologists, many sexual assault survivors end up losing their self-esteem and start blaming themselves for the incident.
And the worst part is that they don’t even want to talk to someone about what happened to them out of shame and embarrassment.
But you should know that such thoughts are just going to exacerbate the trauma. Your friends and family members are all there to support you. All you need to do is confide in them and reach out for support.
You’ll notice that your close ones and the people you trust are not there to pry on the details. Instead, they are there for you to listen to what you have to say without any judgment.
In fact, you can also consider talking to professionals who are trained to listen to your story, connect with you on a deeper level and help you get through the process without deteriorating your mental health.
- Try to reconnect with yourself
Experiencing a sexual assault is traumatic, regardless of how it was done. You might end up playing the entire incident on loop in your mind. And this is something that will hold you back in getting your life back on track.
You need to learn how to actively cope with your trauma and feel like your normal self again.
For this, you can try activities such as painting, playing games, or anything that takes your mind off of things.
The only thing you need to keep in mind with this is to avoid indulging yourself in bad habits such as drinking or smoking. They may feel like momentary coping strategies but would ruin things for you in the long run.
The verdict
Experiencing a sexual assault can leave a life-long scar for you. But learning how to cope with the strategies can help you kickstart your recovery process.