HOW TO MOVE ON AFTER RAPE

Rape or forced sex is a crime that has terrible effects on the victim. No one but the victim can understand the pain, humiliation and negative feelings accompanied with rape. Have you suffered from rape? Or do you know someone who was? Read on the 5 tips on how to move on after rape.

There is life after rape but leaving the criminals to roam free is an injustice that should not go unpunished.

HOW TO MOVE ON AFTER RAPE

1 SEEK IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

It is important to seek immediate professional help after a rape incident. Go to a doctor for examination and to take preventive measures from pregnancy or Sexually Transmitted Infections. Also file your case with the police without leaving out any crucial details. It is also advised to tell a trusted loved one of your experience.

2 SEEK COUNSELLING

Professional counselling offers a way of healing after the trauma of surviving rape. Dealing with the trauma alone can be a painful process and it is better to deal with the event than trying to suppress the emotions from that experience.

Also joining a support group will help you to survive beyond the traumatic experience of rape. Counsellors can lead you through the steps of healing but sharing with loved ones or a support group on your experience can lead to liberation as well as give you the opportunity to help others survive beyond their experience.

3 SEEK JUSTICE

Seeking justice after a traumatic experience such as rape can give the feeling of reliving the trauma all over again. But bringing the rapist to justice is the only way to make sure the offender does not repeat the crime on a separate victim. It may take courage to pursue the case but when you’ve been wronged, it is only right to fight for justice.

Expose the rapist through community news so that other people can be aware and won’t be victimized by the same person too.

4 HELP YOURSELF

Standing above the situation and living a life not controlled by your past – physically or emotionally – is an effort you have to make. There are many people and groups willing to help victims of traumatic experiences to build better lives but this help cannot be effective if you are not willing to give up being a victim and take on being a survivor.

It also helps to learn effective skills of self-defense physically or emotionally so that the incident will not have a chance to repeat itself. You can also teach the skills of recovery you’ve learnt to help others in their recovery.

5 IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT

Do not feel ashamed if you were raped. You are not the one to feel shame. The one to feel shame is the abuser or rapist. It was not your fault then and it is not your fault now. The only responsibility upon you now is to build a future that is not dictated by the traumatic event in your past.

Survivors guilt can make you feel like you are the reason a bad thing happened to you but opening up to a loved one, counsellor or support group will allow you to be liberated from the survivors guilt.