Reactions to Sexual Assault
Every survivor experiences the consequences of sexual assault in their
own unique way. Many survivors have reported that they
experienced feelings of severe emotion and physical violation that
affected many areas of their lives. Some effects may be noticed
immediately, while others may appear later. It is important for
survivors to know that regardless of how they react to the sexual
assault that their response is completely normal.
Some reactions to sexual assault may include:
- Fear/Shock - Any traumatic event or crisis produces
this response. It is often an attempt for the
survivor to believe the sexual assault has not
happened and some people try to regain normal
life patterns after a shock. Survivors are likely
to fluctuate between degrees of hysteria and
extreme control.
- Relief
that the sexual assault is finally over and
that the assailant is gone.
- Guilt/Shame - Survivors often begin to ask themselves
if they asked to be sexually assaulted and begin
to blame themselves for the attack. Many survivors
say things like: "I shouldn't have gone back
to his room with him," thus blaming the assault
on their actions.
- Fear/Suspicion
- Many survivors fear being assaulted again.
- Anger/Depression
- Regardless of how hard survivors may
try to keep the rape from impacting their lives,
the experience influences their lives profoundly.
This phase of healing is often marked by nightmares,
a generalized feeling of anxiety and flashbacks
to the attack. This is often the phase when
survivors seek professional assistance in recovering
from the rape.
- Acceptance
- When enough of the anger and depression is
released and worked through, survivors may begin
to accept what has happened to them. The trauma
begins to play less of a major life role and
they begin to feel in control of their emotions.
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