Girls, How do I support girlfriend who struggles with rape trauma?

[Anonymous]

Yesterday my girlfriend told me something that really shocked me and I don't really know how to help.

We are long distance at the moment so we text and video chat a lot between visits.
We were texting last night and she said she needed to tell me something.
I said "is it easier if I call you" and she replied "no I'm more comfortable texting". I got worried, there were a few messages back and forward while she stalled.
Then finally she told me that she was raped when she was 11yrs old and needed to tell me because she still struggles with it sometimes and nobody else knows.

I had no idea what to say. I felt horrible and I called her and supported her the best way I could. But I've never been confronted by this before. I have no idea how to help except to just listen and support her. But really I had no idea what to say.

• Does anyone have any kind of experience with this? Do you have any advice on how I can do what's best for her mental well-being?

[jennifer_bloom]

If your religious, you should pray for her, because God can heal her better than you can, and when you pray for her, you will feel less guilty about your inability to immediately solve her problem. Of course, you should also offer emotional support to her but you don’t have to feel guilty if you don’t know what to say or do, the fact you are trying counts for a lot. Books might help you figure out how to support her, see if you can find something at the library.

[Agape93]

Be patient and supportive. Watch what you say. Don't push her to do sexual things.