Rape
What Should You Do If You or Your Child Has Been Raped?
By:Melody Tyme
What should you do if your child just told you that he/she had been raped? What should you do if you walked in a room to find your daughter huddled in a corner, crying hysterically; only to find out she was raped? What should you do if your child is acting fine and tells you in a serious tone that she/he has been raped? First you should take them seriously, rape isn't a joking matter.
If you have been raped or your child has been raped below are some things you should do. Yes, you are probably feeling rage or fear. You want to harm the person that did this to you or your child. But stay calm your child needs you. Do the proper procedures so this person can be stopped and will not harm another.
What To Do
- Get away, go somewhere safe
- Don't wash, bathe, douche, or change..this will be evidence
- Tell someone, a police officer or family member. Someone you can trust.
- Call 9-1-1
- Go to the hospital, you may need medical attention (ask for a rape kit)
- Remember this is not your fault
- Write down all details, you don't want to forget
- Seek Counseling
Remember this is a critical time. Evidence and time are very important at this stage. The sooner the perpetrator is caught the better.
If you are the parent be there for your child. You want to catch this person before it happens again, yet you want your child to feel safe.
What one may feel after the rape:
- Fear
- Not wanting to be physically touched
- Constant showering/bathing
- Not trusting
- Anger
- Sadness
- Pretending you are happy
- Acting like nothing happened
- Constant nightmares of the event
- depression and possible suicide.
You have done nothing wrong, all of these feelings are normal. Parents keep an extra close eye on your child if he/she becomes distraught or isolates him/herself from the family.
If you are the parent remember, your child is not angry with you or blaming you, they are only reacting the only way they know how. Be there. Make sure you seek counseling for yourself as well as your child. Yes, even if you weren't raped your child was and now you have to deal with it.
Facts about rape
-5 women will be raped within 10 minutes
-The rapist is normally someone we know.
-9 out of 10 rapes happen to women
-Men are raped too.
For Phone number and websites
24-hour hotline (217)384-4444
Toll Free 1 800 656 HOPE
Call a Rape Crisis Hotline in your town.
Or Keyword Rape for AOL users.
www.rainn.org
Please send any comments on this article to Survivor Haven
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