24 HOUR CRISIS LINE: 083 484 9409  
Tel: 021 852 5620 • Fax: 086 519 4358   
Email: help@crisiscentre.org.za  
Helderberg Hospital • Lourensford Road • Somerset West  
Western Cape • South Africa • 7129  
Rape Survivors
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BOOKS, RESOURCES & LINKS
 

Suggested Book: The Courage To Heal (Authors: Ellen Bass and Laura Davis)

The Courage To Heal is an excellent book that works through healing, the consequences of the abuse and takes us through the emotions. This book is highly recommended by our counsellors and is used extensively by our support group for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. We suggest to each and every adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse that they read this book. You are welcome to contact us if you have questions regarding this book. This suggestion is intended for adult readers.

(WARNING! This book is very triggering and can bring many feelings connected to the aduse to the surface - THIS IS A GOOD THING though. The authors totally understand this and take you step-by-step through the process with chapters that cover everything that you will have to deal with. Many survivors read this book only AS they can handle it, others use the book as a guide through their healing as they deal with particular problems without reading the book in sequence at all. The best way to get rid of a feeling is to FEEL IT FULLY. We do however recommend that you have support during the time that you read this book. The section of the book entitled Survival Skills For Healing deals with this extensively. For a list of counsellor options click HERE)

 
 
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After being raped, even if you do not open a case please:

  • Get evidence collected within 24 hours and no later than 72 hours (the police will take you to the rape crisis centre or hospital)
  • Get anti-retrovirals & emergency contraception within 72 hours (anti-retrovirals are free to rape victims at government hospitals)
  • Get antibiotic medication to prevent other sexually transmitted infections
  • Get counselling from a person trained in rape trauma counselling - it is never too late

You can get all of the above free at our office at Helderberg Hospital, Somerset West

Call 083 484 9409 (24 hours a day) or 021-852 5620 (office hours) or write to help@crisiscentre.org.za.

You do not have to go through this alone.

RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME is a recognised response to rape and sexual abuse and it includes a variety of problems including various long-term consequences, the symptoms are similar to Post Traumatic Stress. Although many rape survivors suffer from the symptoms of Rape Trauma Syndrome, not all survivors respond to rape in the same way. It is important to treat each rape survivor as an individual and to try and understand what the rape means to that particular person. Coping with being raped may also be more difficult if family, friends and colleagues are not supportive and/or blame the survivor. After the shock has passed, some survivors try to act as if nothing has happened. This is their way of trying to block out the rape, because they feel that they won't be able to cope if they let themselves remember what happened to them. However, if a rape survivor is going to recover well from the impact of a rape, s/he must let her/himself remember the rape and feel whatever s/he is feeling inside. When s/he does start remembering and feeling, s/he will also start suffering from symptoms, but these usually improve gradually over time. It often helps a survivor to have counselling if s/he is experiencing symptoms that upset her/him. The effects of rape are long term. Rape survivors never forget being raped, but many learn how to deal with the memory. Studies have shown that the symptoms suffered by a rape survivor three months after a rape usually continue over the next three to four years, although they do seem to improve over time. Sadly South Africa holds the for the highest rapes world-wide. Interpol estimates that over 1 million women are raped each year in South Africa.
We want to help you to "PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER AGAIN".