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 Get yourself to a place of safety. Ask someone to stay with you or go and stay with someone if it makes you feel safer. Get medical attention as soon as possible. You may need to go to the casuality department at the local hospital if you have physical injuries that need treating. It is best to seek medical attention anyway just to check there are no internal injuries and to be checked for sexually transmitted diseases and to have a pregnancy test. You may want to consider having an HIV test (you need to wait 3 months after the assault for this). You can see your own GP for this or go to a well-woman centre, a GU clinic or family-planning clinic if you do not want to see your own doctor. You may want to report to the police. This is entirely your decision but if you are going to report then the sooner you do it the better. The police are usually happy to come to your house if you don't want to go to the police station. If you can don't shower or bathe before going to the police and keep all the clothes you were wearing at the time. These all provide valuable evidence.
You may want to contact a support group or helpline. You may want to consider counselling. It often helps to talk through your feelings with someone in a confidential setting. You may have a close friend or family member who you can turn to for support. You can look in the phone book for your local helpline or rape crisis centre or you can ring us on freephone 0808 800 1144.
Give yourself plenty of time. People do rebuild their lives after being raped, sexually assaulted or abused but this takes time and will not happen overnight. Try and do nice things for yourself from time to time.
Some people find that writing down their feelings or drawing helps them feel better. Don't feel bad if you feel angry or sad.
Respect your own judgement as you know what is best for you. Don't be pressured into physical and sexual contact before you feel ready.
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You can contact the Wiltshire Rape Support Help Line by calling; freephone 0808 800 1144 . We are open , Thursdays 9.30am - 12.30pm & 7.00pm - 10.00pm. There is an answerphone on at all other times. If you are able to leave a safe number we will call you back during these times or at other times by arrangement. Or you can write to Rape Support, c/o 31A The Brittox, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1AJ
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 Copyright National Association of Victim Support Scheme. President, HRH The Princess Royal. Charity No. 900158. |
