In any way they can. Everyone is different and what gets one through may not another. So I can only give my personal experience and the after affects. I was held against my will by a "friend" he and his friend took turns holding me down and you can figure out the rest. I fought with everything I had but I am petite. For being slight I am pretty strong but I learned sometimes will alone can't save you from harm. It can see you through all the hard roads it takes to be "okay" again.
There for me was a process, though I didn't know it at the time. I felt used and dirty and somehow at fault. I kept it to myself and that caused so much more damage than I could handle. I was breaking inside, not eating or sleeping. The sleep I did get was filled with dreams about it. I turned to self medicating, which lead to more problems. I destroyed anyone who got close to me. Meaning the relationship not the person. I was full of rage and darkness. Then someone said to me "Get busy living or get busy dying"
That made me angry but it also made me think. Who had I become? I didn't recognize me anymore and I went against everything this I was raised to be. I had someone raise me to be strong with morals and values. I was letting this strip me of me. So I faced it and forgave myself. It wasn't my fault and I had to stop punishing me for their wrong. It wasn't easy, nor quick. I had heaped on many more hurts in the process to forget. So I had to take a hard look in the mirror and have some unpleasant talks with myself. I still have trust issues and a fear of certain situations but I found my way back to me. To me getting through hard things is holding on to who you are inside. The world can and does change, people will turn on each other. Bad things happen but if you can hold on to the good in you and not become bitter. You will find the way.