Help with rape

I was raped when I was 8 years old, I am 18 now...I have never told anyone this, not even a friend. For a long time I pretended that it never happened, that I just misunderstood what really occured. I blocked it out of my mind and I can't continue to do...

so..I've never even cried about it, I pretend it was just some dream I had... How do I not only break the news to my friends but finally cope with something that happened so long ago?

its not to late to ask for help.
I was raped when I was young ,
by a family member.
and its hard to deal with, I know.
but the sooner you get it out in the open the better you'll feel.
what if the person who raped you raped thirty thousand other girls too and none of them told?
you need to get it off your chest. (:
im here if you need more advise (:
just lemmie know.

If you've never told ANYONE about it then you need to tell a parent or guardian that you really trust talking to. It could even be a coach, but definately tell and ADULT. I know that you're 18 but that's still pretty young. NOBODY should have to suffer through something like that and I am so sorry that you had to. They can help you decide what you need to do. Plus if you're still in high school, you may tell the wrong person and then everyone will know. Tell a trusted adult because they will help you with these terrible cercumstances. If you ever do need to talk please let me know. :]
GOOD LUCK!

BillieJean, there are multiple ways to deal with your fears, embarrassment, pain, and eventual recovery. I will mention one possibly for you, and you can decide if you are interested. First though, I would find someone you trusted, if at all possible, such as a pastor, or the pastor's wife, a pyschological counselor, your doctor, do name a few. Okay, I work with girls who have been sexually abused as children. While I have worked with girls from ages 16 to 45, I am currently working with two, one 33, the other 38. My e-mail address is Fun mail me. I work with them in person, some by phone, some by letters, and some by e-mail and Yahoo Messenger. I'm not a Psych counselor, just someone who has been through it myself, and who enjoys working with the way too many girls who have been through it too. So, I invite you to contact me, no costs involved. I do this on a volunteer basis. Regardless, talk to someone. You will find you are by far, not alone. I will gladly help you, but you must talk to someone! You will heal, you will recover, you will live. Take Care! Don

You need to tell somebody you trust. A parent or somebody you are very close too. My mom was raped when she was 5 and she was molested by the rapists daughters from 5-9 so yea, we get it. The bad thing is, the horrid person that raped you can no longer go to jail because you are 18 and more than 7 years has passed. You still need to tell somebody you really trust and then it will go from there.

 
You should contact your local chapter of STAR (Standing Together Against Rape). They have the knowledge and resources to help you deal with it, even at this long passage of time.