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uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations

What to do if…
you have memory gaps or unexplained signs that make you fear you were sexually assaulted

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Move somewhere you feel safer and contact someone you trust. Call 999 if you are in immediate danger or seriously unwell; otherwise, contact a specialist sexual assault service promptly, even if you are unsure what happened.

Do not do these things

  • Do not stay alone with or confront anyone you are frightened of.
  • Do not drive if you feel confused, unusually sleepy, dizzy, faint or unsteady.
  • Do not take more alcohol or non-prescribed drugs to manage how you feel.
  • Do not force yourself to reconstruct every detail or choose an explanation now.
  • Do not feel that you must decide immediately whether to report to the police.
  • Do not blame yourself for drinking, taking drugs, freezing, complying or being unable to remember.

What to do now

  1. Reach the earliest safe pause available, such as a trusted person’s home, a staffed public place or a medical setting. Call 999 if someone may still harm you or you need emergency medical help.
  2. Tell one trusted person where you are and ask them to stay with you, speak with you by phone or accompany you. You can simply say that you feel unsafe and need company.
  3. Seek urgent medical assessment if you have injuries, bleeding, pain, vomiting, sudden confusion, unusual drowsiness or other symptoms that concern you. Do not drive yourself if you feel impaired.
  4. Contact a Sexual Assault Referral Centre or the equivalent specialist sexual assault service in your part of the UK. You do not need to be certain that an assault happened, and you can ask about injuries, possible spiking, emergency contraception and sexually transmitted infection care.
  5. Ask the specialist service to explain your medical, forensic and reporting options before you decide anything. Some options may be time-sensitive, but you do not need a complete memory or settled account to ask for support.
  6. If it may have happened recently and you might want forensic options, ask the specialist service before washing or changing clothes if that is manageable; help remains available if you have already done either.
  7. Avoid contact with anyone you fear if that feels safer. Ask your trusted person or the specialist service to help you decide where you will stay for the next few hours.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now what to call the experience, whether every sign has one explanation, whether to confront anyone, whom else to tell or whether to report to the police. You also do not need to produce a complete timeline before seeking medical care or specialist support.

Important reassurance

Memory gaps or unexplained signs cannot establish exactly what happened, but uncertainty is a valid reason to seek help. You deserve support without having to prove anything first, and drinking, taking drugs, freezing or not remembering does not make you responsible for another person’s actions.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate safety, medical support and access to specialist services. Later decisions about reporting, ongoing healthcare or other support may require help from a specialist adviser or healthcare professional.

Important note

This is general information, not medical, legal, therapeutic or other professional advice. Emergency, healthcare and specialist services can assess your individual situation and explain the options available where you live.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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