Experiencing a sexual assault can affect survivors in many different ways. You may find yourself feeling or behaving very differently than usual. Remember that there is no right or wrong way to react, and there is no universal way to respond to trauma such as sexual violence. Only you know how you feel and you have a right to express those feelings in whatever way you need to.
Many survivors experience:
Survivors of sexual assault may experience severe feelings of anxiety, stress or fear, known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as a direct result of the assault. Many survivors experience:
- nightmares
- fear
- flashbacks
- difficulty concentrating
- anger
- anxiety
- guilt
- self-blame
- confusion
- shock or numbness
- difficulty sleeping
- avoidance of sex or promiscuity
- loss of control
- vulnerability and mistrust
If you have experienced some or all of these feelings following a sexual assault, remember that you are having a normal reaction to a very abnormal and traumatic experience. On the other hand, these reactions may not fit your experience at all, and that's okay too. It's greatly recommended that you meet with a counselor or therapist to work through the emotional and psychological after-effects of a sexual assault, so that you may begin to feel safe again.
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Below are more of the after-effects that some survivors experience; click on the link for more information.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Victims of rape or sexual assault may turn to alcohol or other substances in an attempt to relieve their emotional suffering.
Deliberate self-harm, or self-injury, is when a person inflicts physical harm on himself or herself.
Described as a victim’s emotional “bonding” with their abuser, Stockholm Syndrome develops subconsciously and on an involuntary basis.
There are many emotional and psychological reactions that victims of rape and sexual assault can experience. One of the most common of these is depression.
Table of Sexually Transmitted Infections, their symptoms, treatment, and possible complications.
If you were recently raped, you may have concerns about becoming pregnant from the attack. If the rape happened a long time ago, you may have concerns about a pregnancy that resulted from the attack.
Victims and survivors with eating disorders often use food and the control of food as an attempt to deal with or compensate for negative feelings and emotions and to regain control over one's life.
Body memories are when the stress of the memories of the abuse experienced by an individual take the form of physical problems that cannot be explained by the usual means.
If you are currently thinking about suicide, or know someone who is, please reach out for help.
Military sexual trauma (MST) is a technical term that refers to the psychological trauma experienced by military service members, as a result of sexual assault or sexual harassment, as classified by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse experience an array of overwhelming and intense feelings. These may include feelings of fear, guilt, and shame.
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| (c) Copyright 2014 Robyn King. All Rights Reserved. |
Sources:
RAINN.org
Moving to End Sexual Assault
(c) Robyn King. All Rights Reserved.
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