Every person responds differently to rape or sexual assault. You may experience a range of emotions such as depression, humiliation, fear, confusion, anger, numbness, guilt, or shame. These are all normal responses.
The sexual assault was not your fault. All blame for the assault falls on the person who did not have your full consent and willing participation at the time of sexual contact. Even if you were flirting with the perpetrator at some point prior to the assault, or if you were voluntarily under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the sexual violence was not your fault.
It may take quite some time to rebuild trust in other people. Being the victim of a rape shatters your sense of trust, which can take time to rebuild, depending on your resiliency and the circumstances. Recovering from a sexual assault is a long, complicated experience. Do not feel guilty if you cannot simply "get over it." There is no right or wrong way to heal, everyone has their own way of becoming a survivor, and you should not try to heal the way someone tells you to if it doesn’t feel right for you. It is also unhealthy to rely on anyone who does not take you seriously or tries to play down what happened to you. The result of giving credibility to that person could make you feel worse.
Links to other helpful resources
Florida Council Against Sexual Violence
Florida’s Resource For information on Sexual Violence, Recovery, Services, Legislation and Awareness
Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network
Singer Tori Amos’ National Resource for Information on Sexual Violence, Recovery, Services, Legislation and Awareness - 24 Hour Online Counseling Available.
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
National Resource for Information on Sexual Violence, Recovery, Services, Legislation and Awareness - Extensive Online Library Available.
1in6
National Resource for Male Survivors of Sexual Violence With information On Recovery, Services & Awareness