Impact of Sexual Assault

Physical Effects
Emotional and Psychological Effects
Understanding the Recovery Process for Survivors of Sexual Assault: Rape Trauma Syndrome

One in three college-aged women and one in ten college-aged men are survivors of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault. Recovering from a sexual assault is difficult for any survivor. There are many reactions that all survivors of sexual assault have in common, but there are no rules for how survivors will experience them. There is no right or wrong response. Because each person is different, each person’s way of coping with trauma will be different, too.

Survivors of sexual assault should seek help, so that they may develop coping strategies and begin the healing process. Whether an assault occurred recently or some time ago, survivors may still be at risk for many physical and psychological after-effects. Without help, survivors may experience long-term negative impacts on their academic, vocational, and social lives.

Physical Effects

The physical effects of a sexual assault may not be immediately apparent to a survivor. Survivors should seek immediate medical attention to detect possible internal injuries and for full health screenings.

Minor or serious physical injuries: Survivors of sexual assault may suffer from a wide variety of minor or serious physical injuries, both internal and external. Trained medical providers can treat any major or minor injuries and screen for possible internal injuries.
Sexually transmitted infections: Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are the STIs most commonly diagnosed after sexual assault. Trained medical providers can also screen for Hepatitis B, Genital Warts, Herpes, Syphilis and HIV/AIDS (transmission of this virus is rare in sexual assault incidents) and provide survivors with prophylactics where appropriate. Anonymous and/or confidential testing is available through most local health departments.
Pregnancy: Sexual assaults resulted in pregnancy 1-5% of the time. Trained medical providers can offer information on choices and treatment that is available.
Stress-related illnesses: Survivors may experience a variety of stress-related illnesses, including high blood pressure, headaches, a compromised immune system and muscle tension. Counseling, relaxation and stress management techniques can all help survivors combat these stress-related illnesses.
Alcohol/drug abuse or dependence: Survivors often turn to alcohol or other drugs to help them to cope with the experience.

Counseling can all help survivors find alternate ways manage stress and trauma in the aftermath of a sexual assault.

Compassionate health care providers in Student Health Services (SUB I, Room 215, 703-993-2831) are available (at no charge to survivors) for treatment and further information. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) at Fairfax Hospital will conduct examinations to collect evidence (called a Physical Evidence Recovery Kit, or PERK) and treat minor injuries at no charge. No police report is necessary for survivors requesting a PERK.

Emotional and Psychological Effects

Sleeplessness
Inability to concentrate in class or function at a usual level
Overeating or appetite loss
Nightmares
Loss of self-confidence
Stress related illness
Feelings of grief and despair
Fear of being alone, or with people, or in a specific setting, especially at night
Anxiety and mood swings
Flashbacks
Feelings of guilt and shame
Feelings of helplessness
Denial of the assault
Embarrassment
Distrust towards others

Everybody reacts differently to trauma and recovery takes time. Survivors of sexual assault typically experience a wide variety of reactions following a sexual assault. Survivors may experience abrupt changes in mood. They may feel they are overreacting to normal everyday problems and then become angry with themselves. Many different reactions are common and understandable and do not mean the survivor is “going crazy”; these reactions are normal responses to a terrifying life-threatening experience. Some of the more common survivor reactions to sexual assault include:

Anger: I want to kill the perpetrator.
Anxiety: I’m having panic attacks. I can’t breathe. I just can’t stop shaking. I can’t sit still in class anymore. I feel overwhelmed.
Denial: It wasn’t really a “rape.”
Depression: How am I going to get through this semester? I’m so tired. I feel so helpless. .
Disbelief: Did it really happen? Why Me? Maybe I just made it up.
Disinterest in sex: I have no interest in sex anymore. The thought of having sex repulses me. Every time s/he touches me, it reminds me of the assault.
Disorientation: I don’t even know what day it is, or what class I’m supposed to be in. I keep forgetting things.
Embarrassment: What will people think? I can’t tell my family or friends.
Emotional Shock: I feel so numb. Why am I so calm? Why can’t I cry?
Fear: I’m scared of everything. What if I am pregnant? Could I get an STI or even AIDS? How can I ever feel safe again? Do people know there is anything wrong? I can’t sleep because I know I’ll have nightmares. I am afraid I am going crazy.
Flashbacks: I’m still re-living it. I see his/her face all the time.
Guilt: I feel as if it’s my fault, or did something to make this happen. If only I had…
Minimizing: It wasn’t really that bad.
Powerlessness: Will I ever feel in control again?
Shame: I feel so dirty, like there is something wrong with me. I want to wash my hands or shower all the time.

If you are the survivor of an assault, you may also find yourself reliving the incident, trying to find an alternative response or different outcome. You may see these possibilities in retrospect (now that the immediate danger has passed), but do not forget the reality of what happened. During the assault you were powerless and in a state of fear. You are not to blame and your actions were understandable given the potentially life-threatening circumstances of the assault.

Specially trained professionals in Counseling and Psychological Services are available for confidential counseling and support (SUB I, Room 364, 703-993-2380).

Understanding the Recovery Process for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Rape Trauma Syndrome

Survivors of sexual assault experience a variety of emotional, physical, and psychological responses to an assault. There are many reactions that all survivors of sexual assault have in common, however, depending upon the relationship to the perpetrator, some reactions and emotions can either be exaggerated or non-existent. They may feel like they are losing it or going crazy when they have flashbacks, feel depressed, or have panic attacks.

Providing survivors with education about their reactions — what to expect and how to develop effective coping strategies — is an essential step in the healing process. Survivors of sexual assault who have this information can know that they are experiencing “normal” reactions to an abnormal event, and can begin to move forward.

The stages of Rape Trauma Syndrome are:

Crisis or Acute Stage: This may last from a few days to two weeks following the incident. Some survivors are visibly shaken and upset, may be crying, hyperventilating, etc. Others have a controlled style where they appear outwardly calm. This does not mean they are not suffering, or that their trauma is less, but they have a different style of coping. Physical symptoms may include muscle aches and pains, headaches, stomach distress, insomnia, nightmares, or wanting to sleep all the time, lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and other stress reactions. Emotional signs include shock, numbness, disbelief, denial or minimization, fear, anger, shame, guilt, betrayal, sadness, confusion, loss of self-esteem and lack of trust.

Outward Adjustment: This may last for a few weeks to a few months. On the surface, survivors may appear to be fine and have returned to their normal routine, but they may have taken steps to increase their feelings of safety and security. For example, they may change phone numbers, buy a new lock or a big dog, move, change jobs or majors, drop out of school, or transfer to another campus. Often survivors experience flashbacks in response to certain environmental triggers that remind them of the assault. Helping them to understand these reactions and desensitizing them to certain cues is important. Friends and family may find it difficult to understand survivors’ responses and why they can’t move forward; it is important to remain patient and supportive during the recovery process. Education or counseling may be appropriate for both survivors and their loved ones at this point.

Depression: Many, but not all survivors report feeling depressed for a few weeks to several months. They may question why this happened to them or blame themselves for the assault. Every day problems seem magnified. They may begin to use alcohol, food, or drugs as a way to cope with the pain.
Feeling isolated and alone, they may withdraw further from friends and some consider suicide.

Resolution: It may take months or years for some survivors to reach this stage. When the focus is on the future rather than the past, when the assault become part of a personal history, rather than the present, survivors can move on with their lives and see the incident in perspective.

Silent Reaction: Many survivors, especially those assaulted in childhood or adolescence, may remain silent and never report their abuse to anyone. They initially distance themselves from the incident and try to bury it, often because it was too scary and they lack the resources to cope with the experience. At a later time, when the memories resurface, they may find themselves at the acute stage of Rape Trauma Syndrome, experiencing flashbacks, depression, etc., even though the incident took place months or years ago.