People who have been raped or sexually assaulted may experience a range of feelings and reactions. Few would recognise these as normal reactions to a traumatic event and therefore may become very concerned about what is going on with them, or wonder whether they are going “crazy”. It is important for people to know that their reactions are normal and can be expected. They may need to know that trauma reactions can be experienced by victims/survivors of sexual assault on physical, emotional, social and ideological/spiritual levels. As mentioned before, for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted, the nature of this crime can add specific complexities.
They may struggle with the view society has of this crime, with possible feelings of guilt, shame, self blame, and/or with the relationship they have with the perpetrator.
Some of the reactions survivors may talk about include:
Physical:
physical pain;
feeling sick;
headaches;
tension;
sleeping difficulties;
unable to eat or wanting to eat all the time; and
loss of enjoyment of sex.
Emotional:
feeling depressed;
feeling suicidal;
guilt;
shame;
self blame;
relieved that the assault is over and they have survived; and
feeling alone and that nobody understands them.
Social:
isolation from family/friends;
needing company all the time;
not being able to enjoy time with others;
feeling fearful around other people; and
too scared to go out.
Ideological / Spiritual:
thinking that the world has changed;
doubting their spiritual or religious beliefs;
having a black or white view of the world
not knowing who they are any more; and
having altered perceptions of themselves in the world.
Some of these reactions may be affecting the person short term or over longer periods of time.
Minor injuries such as bruising or scratches may occur during the sexual assault and more severe injuries are less common. Women may become pregnant as a result of the rape and there is also a chance of contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol abuse have all been associated with the experience of sexual assault.
People may take days, months, or even years to seek professional help after they have been sexually assaulted. Some survivors may have personal barriers preventing them from seeking professional help, while others may have difficulties accessing health services.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Research indicates that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects about 25% of people exposed to traumatic events with a higher prevalence in rape victims, with about one third of rape survivors developing PTSD (Keane, Weathers & Foa, 2000). Characteristic symptoms of PTSD are grouped into avoidance, arousal and intrusion symptoms. Intrusion may include re-experiencing the event and having flashbacks of some of the event. Avoiding stimuli involved with the event can mean stopping to go to particular places or not listening to specific music. Arousal can include a constant level of anxiety and alertness.
