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Sexual Assault
Individuals who have experience sexual assault may be experiencing the following:
- Shock
- Disbelief
- Anger
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Disturbances in eating and sleeping habits
- Denial
- Fear
- Helplessness
- Embarrassment
- Depression
- Inability to concentrate or relax
- Resurfacing memories of past abuse
For some, the emotional impact of sexual assault can be immediate and
short term. For others, the effects can be long lasting. Many survivors
find it helpful to talk to a counselor trained to understand and assist
survivors of sexual assault.
Each person decides how she or he wants to use the counseling experience.
For example, some want help recovering their sense of control over their
lives, thinking through the pros and cons of reporting and adjudication,
getting back on track academically, deciding who will be the best support
during recovery, coping with not being believed, or dealing with self
blame and loss of confidence.
If the assault occurred recently
- Get to a safe place.
-
Avoid washing, douching, brushing your teeth, or changing your clothes.
This could be difficult, but if you wash you may destroy evidence that will
be needed if you decide to report the crime to the police and go through
with adjudication.
- Call someone. No matter how late it is, you
should not be alone
- Seek medical attention. Take the clothes
that you were wearing at the time of the assault with you to the hospital
in a paper bag. It is important to avoid storing the clothes in a plastic
bag in order to preserve evidence.
- Consider reporting the assault.
You may report the assault to the University or local police. Going to the
hospital to seek medical attention does not obligate you to report the crime.
It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. You are urged
to go to the Emergency Room within 72 hours of the sexual assault. You can
get medical attention from a private doctor, clinic, or hospital emergency
room. When you get to the hospital, tell the triage staff you have been
sexually assaulted. When you are seen by a doctor, she or he will ask you
about the assault and about your general medical history. By law, Emergency
Room staff must contact the police when they treat sexual assault victims.
The police will ask you to file a report, but you do not have to talk to
them or file a report if you don't want to. Filing a report does not obligate
you to follow through with adjudication. You should bring a change of clothes
because the police may want to keep your clothes for evidence.
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