a Guide on What You Should Do After Being Sexually Assaulted
There is a worrying trend of assaults in America and the figure is approximated to one out of three women who are likely to be victimized. If you become a victim of such circumstances, the chances are you may not know where to start from and you will be overwhelmed. Some people have even opted not to do anything, hoping that the trauma will go away. However, there is much you can do if you become a victim such as hiring a sexual assault lawyer. Here is a guide to the things you can do to recover from a sexual assault.
The first thing to do if you are assaulted is to ensure that you remain safe. It is a good idea to reach out to people you trust regardless of the feelings of disconnect. It is upon you to decide if you are going to stay with them or you will invite them to stay with you immediately after the assault. Whoever they are, you should be able to talk to them comfortably. Feel free to talk to them about what you need.
After that, you should decide if you are going to seek medical attention. It is a good idea that you go to both the police and the hospital but answering questions can sometimes be too much to handle. Nonetheless, you can find someone to go with you because this is not something you should do alone. Bathing or washing any part of your body may remove the evidence left behind. Since there are chances of pregnancy or even STDs, ensure that you tell the professionals your worry.
Ensure that you seek professional help. Just like any other psychological and physical trauma, there are plenty of resources available for rape survivors. Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network is one of the greatest resources for rape survivors. Apart from helping you with group therapy, they can also connect you with a sexual assault lawyer. However, not everyone would be comfortable with a group setting.
It is also important to note that you should know your legal rights. You may consider hiring a sexual assault lawyer to sue the rapist in a civil court. Although there are several sexual assault lawyers, finding the best can be a challenge. Not every sexual assault lawyer you meet may provide a great legal representation. Since the attacker can be someone familiar to the victims, some of them opt not to press charges against them. Should fall a victim of sexual assault, you are now familiar with the recovery process.