STEPS TO RECOVERY Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault Sexual Assault Crisis Centers provide a 24-hour crisis hotline, information and referral, free counseling and more! • Remember you don’t have to go through this alone. Consider talking to a friend or calling a sexual assault center. • Be honest with yourself about feelings and thoughts. • Try not to punish yourself with “if only...”. The perpetrator chose to commit the crime, not you. • Remember you can’t control another person’s behavior. It is not your fault. • Talk to people you trust. • Sometimes coping strategies are unhealthy. Seek help if you are using drugs, alcohol (excessively), harming yourself, or using other measures. • Sexual assault centers are available anytime, day or night, or whenever you want to talk. It is free, confidential and you don’t have to give your name. www.lafasa.org PHONE 225.372.8995 FAX 225.292.1986 TOLL FREE 888.995.7273 11832 Newcastle Ave, Ste. 9 Baton Rouge, LA 70816 This project was supported by Grant No. 2014-SWAX-0008 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. Sexual Assault: HEALING TAKES TIME WHAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT? Sex or sexual acts without your consent is sexual assault. It is illegal. It is wrong. It is important to remember: • You are not to blame. The rapist is solely responsible. Sexual assault is any involuntary sexual • Rape is a violent crime involving power and control. • Manipulation and intimidation are just as powerful tools in rape as physical force. • You did not have to fight back in order for it to be rape. • No one asks or deserves to be raped. • You have the right to experience any and all feelings you have. act in which a person is coerced or forced to engage, or any non-consensual sexual touching of a person. Sexual assault is a form of sexual violence, and it includes rape, groping, forced kissing, and other sexual acts. Sexual violence can happen to anyone regardless of gender, age, race, income level, sexual orientation, ability and/or lifestyle. It’s not your fault: If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you have experienced a frightening, life threatening trauma. This brochure is a start in gaining knowledge to assist you in healing. Sex without your consent is rape. It is illegal. It is wrong. There are many reasons why people don’t fight back when they are sexually assaulted. When people are afraid or in shock, their bodies respond in all kinds of ways. They freeze, laugh, they go along with it, or they may go somewhere else in their mind. Whatever you did to cope with of the situation was okay. Feeling guilty or blaming yourself is a normal response. It is an effort to gain REACTIONS TO SEXUAL ASSAULT There is no right or wrong way to feel after being sexually assaulted. People are different and they deal with trauma in many ways. Remember these some control over a situation that was reactions are normal and can diminish with time. uncontrollable. Many victims believe • Emotional - depression, guilt, shame, fear, anger, grief, mood swings • Behavioral - inability to concentrate or relax, or are encouraged to believe that they should forget about the assault and move avoiding places, people, thoughts or feelings, loss of interest on with their lives. This may work on a temporary basis but seldom works long term. Eventually, feelings wil surface and will have to be dealt with. • Physical - nausea, headaches, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, or menstrual cycle changes These reactions may be more difficult to handle on holidays, the anniversary date of the assault, or an event that reminds you of the assault.