MANY TEEN RAPE victims initially assume that they will be able to get over the trauma by themselves. They do not even want to think or talk about the assault. Their reaction to the painful experience is to forget the rape and, it is hoped, put it behind them.

Unfortunately, not talking to anyone about a traumatic experience makes recovery much more difficult. Thirteen-year-old Lisa says that she did not begin to feel better until she began sharing what had happened to her with other people: "I urge any girl who is raped to talk about it with people—preferably an adult—you trust. Get out that awful secret. Because if you don't, it will only fester inside of you and cause you more and more pain."73

Immediate responses

Getting attention, care, and support right away helps the healing process...