Any trauma that was caused by an assault can be extremely traumatizing, both physically and mentally. Every single person that has gone through something like this has had a different experience and may process everything in their own way.
Unfortunately, rarely you can predict these things, but what you can do is take the necessary steps that are going to ensure you get the right help and recover as quickly as possible. And that’s precisely why this article is here.
Today we decided to focus on the ones who’ve been the victims of any type of assault and put together some advice that will make this entire situation a little less frightening and petrifying. Let’s uncover them below!
Crucial Steps That You Must Take After An Assault
Safety Always Comes First
After this blood-curdling event, the first thing that you must do is to be sure you’re safe. In the instant aftermath, a vast majority of people feel lost and are in shock. In order to reestablish a sense of normalcy and safety, it would be smart to contact someone you know, love, and above everything, trust.
This can be a close friend or family member, and if they’re able to, they should come over and spend the night/day with you. Besides that, you can always just curl up with a cozy blanket if that’s going to make you feel safer. Whatever suits you most at that very moment.
An Advocate As A Form Of Protection
In these situations, there are two types of people. Those who are determined to file a police report and prosecute the attacker, and then you have those who are still having second thoughts about it and usually stay silent for a while.
Moreover, they are typically very reluctant to do anything about it. But it shouldn’t be like that. If you’ve been a victim, of, for instance, a sexual assault, yet you live in California, then you should hunt down an experienced and intelligent sexual abuse lawyer in San Diego who is going to help you navigate the legal system and be a huge support on this journey. More importantly, this professional can suggest every option to get the compensation you deserve.
Is There Anything Else That You Can Do?
Medical Help Is A Must!
Another huge step that must be taken after any form of assault is to seek medical attention. Even if you do not think that your wounds are life-threatening or serious, this is something that simply must be taken seriously.
Don’t forget that there are various issues that cannot be noticed right off the bat that could put your life at risk. That’s why you shouldn’t postpone it! Bear in mind that any of the steps that we will mention here can wait, but this one cannot.
Also, seeking medical help instantly will positively impact your case in the future, as you’ll have documented evidence of every effect the attack had on your overall well-being.
Support Is Always Welcome
Once you start feeling relatively safe and fine again, it would be recommendable to connect with someone you trust. Why is this so important? Well, that’s because a lot of victims (aftershock) frequently experience various negative things, like anxiety, panic attacks, dissociation, depression, etc.
And not to mention that in some instances (unfortunately) victims are being blamed for the assault. And that’s something that can definitely exacerbate trauma. Therefore, it’s crucial to have someone you trust and love by your side.
Since you’ll be in a state of shock and under a lot of stress, it would be wise to have a person who isn’t going to go into details too much and God forbid pry. On the contrary. It has to be someone who is going to make sure you feel safe and loved, and who is going to do everything that’s in his or her power to help you recover as quickly as possible.
Now, if you by any chance do not have anyone to turn to, then you can always contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline or any other organization of similar type and share your experience.
Don’t worry, all of this is done anonymously, and bear in mind that out there, you’ll be talking to the people who were trained to help you, who want to hear your story and find resources for different treatments.
No one ever plans (or even worse) wants to become a victim of any type of assault, which is why a vast majority of victims feel completely shattered once something like this happens. But if you want to heal in a relatively short period of time, then you must take certain steps, just like the ones we mentioned here.