Sexual violence effects
These effects aren’t always easy to deal with, but with the right help and support they can be managed. Learning more can help you find the best form of care to begin the healing process.
Sexual violence effects
Sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on a survivor.
Examples of health consequences of sexual violence and coercion for victims
Reproductive health
• Gynaecological trauma
• Unintended pregnancy
• Unsafe abortion
• Sexual dysfunction
• Sexually transmitted infections including HIV
• Traumatic fistulae
Mental health
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Anxiety
• Sleep difficulties
• Somatic complaints
• Suicidal behaviour
• Panic disorder
Behavioural
• High-risk behavior (e.g. unprotected sexual intercourse, early
consensual sexual initiation, multiple partners, alcohol and
drug abuse)
• Higher risk of perpetrating (for men) or of experiencing
subsequent sexual violence (for women)
Fatal outcomes Death from:
• suicide
• pregnancy complications
• unsafe abortion
• AIDS
• murder during rape or for ‘honour’
• infanticide of a child born of rap
These effects aren’t always easy to deal with, but with the right help and support they can be managed. Learning more can help you find the best form of care to begin the healing process.
Self-Harm – Deliberate self-harm, or self-injury, is when a person inflicts physical harm on himself or herself, usually in secret.
Sexually Transmitted Infections – A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a bacterial or viral infection passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral contact.
Substance Abuse – If you are concerned that you’re using substances in a way that could be harmful to your health or have concerns for someone you care about, consider learning more about the warning signs and places to find support.
Dissociation – Dissociation is one of the many defense mechanisms the brain can use to cope with the trauma of sexual violence.
Panic Attacks – A panic attack is a sudden feeling of intense fear and anxiety that happens in situations when there may be no immediate danger. They tend to affect people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or high levels of stress.
Eating Disorders – Sexual violence can affect survivors in many ways, including perceptions of the body and feelings of control.
Pregnancy – If you were recently raped, you may have concerns about becoming pregnant from the attack.A
Sleep Disorders – Symptoms of sleep disorders can include trouble falling or staying asleep, sleeping at unusual times of day, or sleeping for longer or shorter than usual.
Suicide – Suicide is preventable and suicidal thoughts aren’t permanent. If you are thinking about suicide, there are resources to give you the support you need to get through this tough time.
Depression -Depression is a mood disorder that occurs when feelings associated with sadness and hopelessness continue for long periods of time and interrupt regular thought patterns. It can affect your behavior and your relationship with other people. Depression doesn’t discriminate—it can affect anyone of any age, gender, race, ethnicity, or religion. In 2012, an estimated 16 million adults experienced depression, according to the NIH.
Depression:
It’s normal for sex victims to have feelings of sadness, unhappiness, and hopelessness. If these feelings persist for an extended period of time, it may be an indicator of depression. Depression is not a sign of weakness and it’s not something you should be expected to “snap out of.” It’s a serious mental health condition and survivors can often benefit from the help of a professional.
When should I get help?
You might have a difficult time coming forward about the possibility of depression because you think you’re just “feeling down.” If these feelings are interfering with your daily life, know that there is help available.
Where can I find help and learn more?
Learn more about depression from the National Institute of Mental Health or the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
To find a mental health facility or program, you can use the Mental Health Treatment Locator function from the The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Find the center that is closest to you and best fits your needs.
Flashback
– A flashback is when memories of a past trauma feel as if they are taking place in the current moment. That means it’s possible to feel like the experience of sexual violence is happening all over again. During a flashback it can be difficult to connect with reality. It may even feel like the perpetrator is physically present.
Flashbacks may seem random at first. They can be triggered by fairly ordinary experiences connected with the senses, like the smell of someone’s odor or a particular tone of voice. It’s a normal response to this kind of trauma, and there are steps you can take to help manage the stress of a flashback.
What helps during a flashback?
If you realize that you are in the middle of a flashback, consider the following tips:
Tell yourself that you are having a flashback. Remind yourself that the actual event is over and that you survived.
Breathe. Take slow, deep breaths by placing your hand on your stomach and taking deep breaths. You should see your hand move out with the inhalations, and watch it fall in with the exhalations. When we panic, our body begins to take short, shallow breaths, and the decrease in oxygen can make you feel more panicked. Deep breathing is important because it increases the oxygen in your system and helps you move out of anxious state faster.
Return to the present by using the five senses.
Look around you. Make a list of the items in the room; count the colors or pieces of furniture around you. What do you see?
Breathe in a comforting scent, or focus on the smells around you. What do you smell?
Listen to the noises around you, or turn on music. What do you hear?
Eat or drink something you enjoy. Focus on the flavor. What do you taste?
Hold something cold, like a piece of ice, or hot, like a mug of tea. What does it feel like?
Recognize what would make you feel safer. Wrap yourself in a blanket, or go into a room by yourself and close the door. Do whatever it takes for you to feel secure.
How do I prevent flashbacks?
You may be able to take steps to prevent future flashbacks by identifying warning signs and triggers:
Be aware of the warning signs.
Flashbacks sometimes feel as though they come out of nowhere, but there are often early physical or emotional warning signs. These signs could include a change in mood, feeling pressure in your chest, or suddenly sweating. Becoming aware of the early signs of flashbacks may help you manage or prevent them.
Identify what experiences trigger your flashbacks.
Flashbacks can be triggered by a sensory feeling, an emotional memory, a reminder of the event, or even an unrelated stressful experience. Identify the experiences that trigger your flashbacks. If possible, make a plan on how to avoid these triggers or how to cope if you encounter the trigger.
Where can I get help?
There is a relief that comes with the end of a flashback, but that doesn’t mean it’s a one-time occurrence. Flashbacks can worsen over time if you don’t address them. They can also be an indicator of PTSD. Managing flashbacks isn’t easy work for anyone. Many survivors have found success working with a professional to identify triggers and develop tools to help them through flashbacks when they do occur.
It’s normal for survivors of sexual violence to experience feelings of anxiety, stress, or fear.
If these feelings become severe, last more than a few weeks, or interrupt your day-to-day life, it might be a condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
– Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that can result from a traumatic event. You may have heard the term used in relation to the military, but it can apply to survivors of any type of trauma, including sexual violence. Survivors might experience uncharacteristic feelings of stress, fear, anxiety, and nervousness—and this is perfectly normal. With PTSD, these feelings are extreme, can cause you to feel constantly in danger, and make it difficult to function in everyday life.
While all survivors react differently, there are three main symptoms of PTSD:
Re-experiencing: feeling like you are reliving the event through flashbacks, dreams, or intrusive thoughts
Avoidance: intentionally or subconsciously changing your behavior to avoid scenarios associated with the event or losing interest in activities you used to enjoy
Hyper-arousal: feeling “on edge” all of the time, having difficulty sleeping, being easily startled, or prone to sudden outbursts.
Evidence suggests that male and female survivors of sexual violence
may experience similar mental health, behavioral and social
consequences. However, girls and women bear the overwhelming
burden of injury and disease from sexual violence and coercion, not only
because they comprise the vast majority of victims but also because they are
vulnerable to sexual and reproductive health consequences such as unwanted
pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and a higher risk of sexually transmitted infections,
including from HIV, during vaginal intercourse.
It is important to note that men are also vulnerable to HIV in cases of rape.
Effects of sexual harassment
Experiencing sexual harassment may cause some survivors to face emotional, physical, or mental health concerns. Some of them might include:
Emotional effects:
Anger
Fear
Humiliation
Shame
Guilt
Betrayal
Violation
Powerlessness and loss of control
Mental health effects:
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
PTSD
Difficulty concentrating
Loss of motivation
Substance abuse
Suicidal ideation
Physical effects:
Increased stress levels
Headaches
Fatigue
Sleep disturbances
Eating disturbances
Effects of the rape
To most victims the long term effects of the rape are the most important thing of all. This topic addresses the changes in self image, thinking, functioning and major life changes suffered as a direct result of the rape. This is something the victim often has to deal with for their entire life. The four injuries all crime victims suffer are usually listed in victim impact statements as physical, financial, social and emotional.
“Victim impact statements usually describe the harm the offense has had on the victim, including descriptions of the financial, physical, psychological or emotional impact, harm to familial relationships, descriptions of any medical treatments or psychological services required by the victim or the victim’s family as a result of the victimization, and the need for any restitution. “
Rape has effects which many survivors suffer regardless of the level of violence involved. This also includes somatic (body) symptoms
“Sexual assault was also a significant statistical predictor of having multiple sick days in the prior 6 months and of being a high utilizer of primary care visits in the prior 6 months. These data confirm a strong association between sexual trauma exposure and somatic symptoms, illness attitudes and healthcare utilization in women.” ( Stein et. al., 2004)
I/ Physical- body and mind.
a/ Psychological damage and brain functioning
(Invisible damage)
Immediate symptoms
PTSD
OCD
DID
Eating disorders and rape
Self Injury
Self blame
Flashbacks
Memory and ptsd
Panic attacks
Body memories
The mask
Sleeping problems
PTSD and communication
Secondary victimization
Physical symptoms
Pregnancy
Date rape drugs
b/ Physical: Scars or injuries.
II Financial
Financial: Loss of ability to work, educational opportunities lost, legal costs, medical bills.
III Social and Emotional
Pain and suffering (social and emotional): Long term life-altering changes/effects of rape such as loss of ability to work, having to drop out of school, ostracism due to the stigma of rape such as secondary victimization (reactions of others).
About social injuries or secondary victimization:
“Social Injury
In the earlier section on The Four Injuries, the social injury was described. If a victim is treated with dignity, compassion and respect, she may have less difficulty dealing with these immediate and long-term crisis reactions. If she is treated poorly, these reactions may be made worse. When such reactions are worsened, the actions of others are called the “social injury.” Some examples of social injuries are as follows:
* The law enforcement officer or a family member may not believe the victim when she tries to report a crime. For a crime victim with a disability, in particular, the social injury may occur when the victim realizes that other people may not believe her simply because of her disability.
* The story about the crime may be reported in the newspaper, on the television or radio, or may be a source of “gossip” in the community. This can embarrass the victim, especially if the facts are reported incorrectly, if personal information about the victim is given, or if the victim is made to appear foolish.
* Family, friends or even a clergy member may not be helpful or understanding. They may “blame” the victim (not always on purpose) for what happened or they may not want the victim to talk about it because it could cause the family shame.
* Doctors or nurses may not always identify physical injuries as being crime-related.
* Other sources of social injury include mental health professionals, social service workers, victim service workers, schools or educators, victim compensation systems, disability program workers, and employers.”
