Recent Assault
Sexual assault is always the responsibility of the offender; the survivor is never at fault and made the best decision they could at the time.
Common feelings following an assault:
You may be feeling confused or disorientated, especially if drugs or alcohol were involved. You might not remember much of what happened or be faced with confronting evidence of assault such as bruising or bleeding, or possibly you find yourself in a strange place or with someone that you do not know.
It is important to remember that sexual assault is not necessarily about sex, it is a criminal offence in which sex was used to overpower and control the survivor.
You may feel a combination of shame, fear, betrayal and or powerlessness. Your feelings are genuine and valid, but they do not have to overwhelm you.
The Next Steps
No matter what happens next, your first step is to make sure that you are safe, if you are in danger or need urgent medical attention, please dial 000
If possible, find someone that you trust for support. It is likely that you will be feeling a mix of emotions, potentially guilt and shame, but this was not your fault. Having a trusted support person can simply provide someone to lean on as you take the next steps.
Whether or not you have a support person, there are many support services available online and over the phone that are specifically trained to provide relevant information and access to necessary resources. Mental welfare, legal support or simply someone to walk you through the process, we have a list of services that you can find here.
It is entirely your choice whether or not you wish to contact police, however regardless of whether or not you wish to report that assault, you can still get a forensic medical examination to collect evidence to be held for a period of up to 12 months. There are other avenues available to you even if you do not wish to pursue legal action, QLD and NSW police portals have the option to record the details of your assault to be stored in their files, without you having to open a case. Details on alternate reporting options can be found here.
If you do wish to involve police and build a case, it is important to do so as early as possible as potential drugs may only stay in your system for 12-48 hours. Police may want to take blood, urine or hair samples in addition to the forensic examination, this all may sound incredibly confronting, but it is important to remember that you have complete control of this process and have the authority to stop at any point. More information on reporting processes can be found here.
It is strongly recommended that you receive medical attention in any capacity, whether it be through your GP, a sexual health clinic or forensic medical examination. While it is common for survivors to feel disconnected or resentful of their bodies following an assault, your wellbeing is vitally important, and you deserve to move forward in health. While visiting a medical professional you can ask about referrals to mental health plans and – while difficult to think about – STI testing and, if you are female, discuss emergency contraception.
Regardless of the details of the event, such a violation of boundaries and trust will have a profound impact on your mental health, with an estimated 94% experiencing symptoms of PTSD in the two weeks following the event. There are many paths to healing and moving forward. For some, the prospect of talking to a therapist can be quite confronting, if you are not quite ready for that step or simply wish to find some small everyday actions, you can find more information on healing and coping with triggers here.
