Supporting my sister but struggling **TRIGGER WARNING POST CONCERNS RAPE**

[PennysPocket]

My darling sister was raped a few weeks ago.
She is 19 and I am trying to support her but don't know if I am doing it right.

I will not go in to detail but it was in a house at a party and she could not consent as she was drunk. The rapist was not known to her although she was there with friends.

I took her to the police station as soon as she told me and stayed with her through everything. I call her daily and do my best but I am struggling.
I have encouraged her to talk to professionals but so far she is putting it off.
The police are investigating but have said its difficult as it's a consent issues!!!!

I am trying to do all the right things but this has brought back my own rape from many years ago that I did not report. Our parents died when she was 15 so it's just me and her and she won't let me tell our aunt who took DSis in after our parents died.

Is there anything else I can do to help her?
She is at Uni and just completed her first year.

I didn't want to read and run but to send my love and thoughts.
Your doing everything you possibly can to support your sister but maybe it's knocked you for six as you didn't report yourself, maybe it's time to think about going to the police yourself?
God bless you both

I was raped a couple of years ago (like many it never made it to Court) and the best thing anyone did to support me was just listen. The people I struggled with, were the ones who tried to "cheer me up" and wanted me to go back to how I used to be. I understand they wanted that out of concern for me, but being raped changes you as a person I think. You can't be who you were before. The people who could accept that were the ones I ended up turning to. Whatever you do, don't try and "reassure" her that the police will get him, he'll go to prison etc as the sad fact is he probably won't. Unlike a pp, I wouldn't suggest going to the police about your own rape for the same reasons. It's utterly shit but that's how it is. I'm so sorry that both of you are going through this.

Thank you so much for the replies.

I have contacted my GP for support so will see what that brings.

I am so sorry Asti

I'm so sorry you are both experiencing this. Have you tried contacting your local rape crisis centre? They can help even in historic cases such as your own, and I am sure that you and your sister would benefit from some external support. Hopefully, your sister was given a Victim Support leaflet with details, but otherwise, Google for your area