- Keep a cell phone with you and charged up in the event you have a problem and need help.
Remember You Did Not Deserve What Happened To You and the Assault Was Not Your Fault!
If you think that you have been a victim, notify the authorities immediately if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can file a police report. Get immediate medical attention. Call 911 or go to an emergency room. Request that a urine sample be taken to screen for the presence of date rape drugs. Preserve as much physical evidence as possible. Don’t urinate, shower, bathe, douche, or throw away the clothing you were wearing during the assault. If possible, save any other materials that might provide evidence, such as the glass or can that held your drink. Call a crisis rape center for information and support. All women are potential victims of sexual assault: regardless of there age, race, sexual preference, occupation, or education. A woman can be assaulted by a stranger, by a friend, by an acquaintance, co-worker, or relative.
Q: How will I feel after an assault?
A: There is no “correct” way to feel after an assault. Be aware that different people need to heal in their own ways. Some women may need to talk about the assault a number of times to heal. Some need to work through their difficult experience—sometimes by reliving the violation. Seeking a Professional Counselor educated with date rape can make a big difference in recovery.
Some women find their faith in God may be strained, but find strength in keeping their faith and attending church or synagogue helpful. Other women find the answer by being involved in activities to help forget, then when they are better able to handle the facts and face them head on they can find peace to work through the pain.
Finding a qualified rape counselor or participating in a closed group counseling with other women, who understand what you are going through can be healing in itself. Many women who have been victims of the date rape drug have some or all of the following reactions:
