What to Do if You’re Raped on a Date

First of all, know that it is not your fault. It was nothing to do with what you were wearing, or anything you said, or any signals he claims you sent. There is never an excuse for rape, and you should know that it is absolutely never anything you did. This happening is one of the worst things that can happen to someone, and he should not be allowed to get away with it.

Go to the hospital. You need to be checked by a medical professional and ensure that you are alright after this traumatic event. They will provide you will a morning after pill to avoid possible pregnancy. They will want to do a rape kit, and you should definitely allow them to as they can then get as much evidence as possible from this. You won’t have to press charges immediately, if you want to wait, but it is advised to at least get the kit done so that if you want to press charges later, they will have the evidence. Go immediately to the hospital, though if not possible the evidence will still be usable 72 hours after the attack. Just don’t shower or wash yourself beforehand so that they can collect the samples.

Go to the police. While you don’t have to press charges, it is strongly advised so that you can get some kind of closure on the event. He should not be allowed to get away with what he did to you, and you should be part of the solution to make sure that he cannot do it to anyone else.

Get some counseling. After trauma like this, it is natural to get checked out so that your physical well-being is safe, but you have to make sure that your mental health is on the way to healing as well. It is understandable to be afraid, and to not want to relive it, but it will do you a lot of good to be able to talk to someone about what happened. A counselor or therapist will help you to take care of your well-being in the time you’re recovering from the trauma and will help to give you tips on how to help heal yourself.

Talk to friends and family. You don’t have to tell them about the rape if you don’t want to, though it can help them to understand what is happening to you. But at the very least, be sure that you surround yourself with people who care about you and love you. They will want to help you, even if you don’t let them know what happened, and will help fill you with a sense of normalcy.

Know that you are not alone. There are many people who are there to help you, who are there to support you. There are many rape survivors out there who can relate to what you’re going through, and many support groups that will give you a safe place to vent. Just ensure that you go somewhere that you feel comfortable. You are strong.