If you are a parent, friend or partner of a survivor of rape or sexual assault, providing support to loved ones in the time after sexual abuse or rape can be very difficult.
Thank you for being there for the survivor in your life.
You maybe feeling overwhelmed. Often both survivors and their supporters struggle with feeling helpless and angry in the aftermath, and it can take some time to learn how to respond.
For many survivors, support is a crucial part of the healing process. Receiving compassionate and validating responses from friends and family can make a real difference-.
You may have difficulty in knowing what to say or do to help your loved one. It’s okay to not have all the answers; non-judgmental listening and simply being there can be a wonderful support for the survivor. Let your loved one know that you care, that you don’t blame them, and that you believe in them. There are no quick or easy fixes for healing from sexual violence, so it’s important to be patient when the process seems to be taking what some consider to be a long time.
In addition to finding ways to support the survivor, it’s very important to maintain your own well-being and to address your own feelings. You may find yourself feeling alarmed by the intensity of your own feelings. It is natural for family members and supporters to experience their own sense of shock, anger and devastation. Acknowledge the impact that this has on your own life, and seek outside support for yourself. Taking care of your needs can make it easier to provide support to others. Our page on how to support has useful guidance on services that Safeline provides to Friends and Family/Supporters of Survivors.
PARTNERS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OR RAPE VICTIMS
Many of the services which provide help and support to victims or survivors of rape or sexual assault, also provide counselling for partners of rape or assault victims. For a partner to see someone they love traumatised by rape or sexual assault, will naturally bring up all kinds of feelings and emotions in the partner.
Many partners feel intense anger at the abuser, anger and guilt at themselves for not being able to protect their partner. It can help to have someone to talk to for yourself whether that be a friend, family member, a helpline, or counsellor. As a partner of a victim of rape or sexual abuse you will need emotional resources and resilience to support your partner and be there for them. Therefore, try and find a way of letting your emotions out in a safe way and get as much support for yourself as you can.
Your partner may not behave as you might expect – one minute they may be bursting into tears and the next they may seem to be going through the motions of everyday life as if nothing had happened. Your partner may have outbreaks of rage, aggression, anger, mood swings one minute and then be depressed, isolating themselves and not wanting any kind of physical or sexual contact.
How Can You Help?
Believe what your partner tells you and don’t ask too many questions or your partner may feel you do not believe what has happened. Don’t question the actions taken by your partner in relation to the abuse. Your partner took the action they felt necessary in order to survive what was happening. Your partner may or may not decide to report the crime to the police and this may differ from what you think your partner should do. Your partner needs to be in control of what is happening. As a victim or survivor of rape or sexual abuse their control was taken away so respect your partner’s choices and decisions. Your partner can access support from an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) if they want to talk through their options about reporting the rape or abuse.
Don’t force your partner to tell you about what happened, but let them know you are there if and when they need to talk. Ask your partner how you can help if they have panic attacks or nightmares, flashbacks, ask them what they want you to do. Accept that your partner’s behaviour may be erratic and your partner may push you away and for some time may not want any kind of intimacy with you. Try to not take this as if your partner is rejecting you, your partner needs time to rebuild trust and confidence and heal from what has happened. Be guided by your partner if she/he wants to be intimate and allow your partner to take control as much as possible and allow them to decide what they feel comfortable with and what they don’t feel comfortable with. Allow them to take things at their own pace.
Give your partner reassurance and always stop any sexual activity when your partner wants you to. Find out as much information as you can on the effects of rape and sexual abuse and how you as a partner can support that person. This can be found from the internet, from books, and again, get support from us for yourself if you need it.
FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF RAPE VICTIMS
It is very distressing for families and friends to see someone they love and care about in pain and suffering. It can make families feel completely helpless not knowing what to do or say. Giving your support and being there for your loved one is a help to the person who has been raped or sexually abused. If they want to talk then knowing you are there for them will be a comfort. However, survivors can find it difficult to talk to people close to them and often this is to protect themselves from distress. Never force information from a survivor of rape or sexual abuse and accept that they may not be able to talk to you about what has happened. Accept the fact that your loved one may have mood swings, may be depressed, may act as if nothing has happened, may cry constantly, may not want to leave the house and may have outbursts of anger. You can help them by accepting how they are and not taking it personally if anger or frustration is directed at you. You may be able to help in a practical way by accompanying your loved one when she/he goes out in order to help her/him build up confidence and feel safer.
It will mean a tremendous amount just knowing that there is someone around who they trust, someone who loves and cares for them.
You can always ask how you can help, if there is anything you can do. Someone who once enjoyed closeness and hugs may not want close physical contact for a while – again don’t take this personally. On the other hand, someone who has been raped or sexually abused may want a comforting hug more than anything so don’t be afraid to ask if there is anything you can do to help. You may find that you yourself need some support and many of the agencies who provide support for victims of rape will also provide support to families and friends.
