There are many common reactions to sexual violence.

Not all survivors of sexual violence

are the same, nor will any act of sexual violence affect two people in the same way. There
is no wrong or right way to feel or react. As the body and mind process the devastation of
sexual violence, many different emotions, behaviors, and physical responses appear and
disappear and may reappear. This is simply an introduction to help better understand what
a survivor may be experiencing. As an advocate, support person, or someone working with
a survivor of sexual assault, helping to identify and normalize these reactions can be
important.

WHILE EACH SURVIVOR IS UNIQUE IN THEIR

EXPERIENCE, MANY SURVIVORS ARE
IMPACTED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
SHAME
Survivors thinking they are bad, wrong, dirty, or permanently flawed.

GUILT
Survivors feeling that the abuse was their fault. It is very difficult for survivors to place the
blame on the person who assaulted them. Often the offender was a person close to them
that they want to protect. Conversely, it may be that by placing the blame on the offender
they then feel helplessness.

DENIAL
Survivors saying, "It wasn't that bad." "It only happened once." "I am fine, I don't need
anything."

MINIMIZING
Minimizing the assault can be a coping strategy. It might include survivors thinking that their
abuse was not as bad as someone else's. Those supporting a survivor should validate the
impact of the abuse and that it is appropriate that the survivor is upset, traumatized, or
hurting from it.

BOUNDARIES
Because sexual violence is such a boundary violation, it impacts the survivor's perception of
when or how to set boundaries. Survivors may be unfamiliar with boundaries in general;
they may not know that they have a right to create and reinforce them. Many survivors need
support developing and practicing boundaries.

TRUST
Sexual assault is a betrayal of trust. Most survivors find it difficult to trust other people as
well as themselves and their own perceptions. On the other hand, they may place an
inappropriate level of trust in everyone.

SAFETY
Survivors' sense of safety has been altered; they may assess unsafe situations as safe and
perceive safe situations as dangerous. It is important to explore with a survivor what feels
safe by asking specific questions about safety.

ISOLATION
This is a big issue for adult survivors. Many feel that they do not deserve support, that they
are tainted, and that others will not want to be their friends or lovers. A survivor's culture
and (lack of) community connections can, at times, compound feelings of isolation.
Survivors may have been shunned or avoided by their families and/or communities because
of their disclosure.

AMNESIA
A survivor may not remember what happened. In the long-term, if the sexual assault
happened before the development of language, the survivor may not have memory that can
be verbalized.

DISSOCIATION
A survivor may have dissociated during the sexual assault incident(s). They may describe
"floating up out of their body" or "looking over their own shoulder" during the abuse.
Dissociation can happen even when the survivor is not being assaulted/abused; an event or
memory can bring up emotions which trigger dissociation.

ANESTHESIA
The body is where the sexual abuse took place and many survivors feel betrayed by their
bodies in various ways. They may have tried to numb/dissociate from their bodies in order
not to experience the feelings brought on by the abuse. Sometimes in connection with the
experience of numbness, survivors may seek out experiences that provide more intense
physical sensations like self-injury.

PHYSICAL
Survivors may have somatic (body) complaints, eating disturbances, anxiety, difficulty
concentrating, and physical symptoms related to areas on their body affected by assault.

EMOTIONAL
Survivors may be very expressive (anger, sadness), disoriented (disbelief, denial), or
controlled (distant, calm).
COGNITIVE
Survivors may be unable to block out thoughts of the assault, or alternately, forget entire
parts of it. They may constantly think about things they should have done differently.
Nightmares are common. Survivors may also have thoughts or fantasies of being in a
similar situation and "mastering" the traumatic event.
Other related issues that may emerge are eating disorders, physical changes, changes in
sexuality, substance abuse, self-harm, thoughts of suicide, anger, and mood disorders such
as depression and post-traumatic stress.

LONG TERM REACTIONS INCLUDE COPING MECHANISMS

WHICH MAY BE BENEFICIAL AND ADAPTIVE (SOCIAL
SUPPORT), OR COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND MALADAPTIVE
(SELF-HARM, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, EATING DISORDERS).
 continuing anxiety
 poor health
 sense of helplessness
 persistent fear
 depression
 mood swings
 sleep disturbances
 flashbacks
 dissociation
 panic attacks
 phobias
 relationship difficulties
 withdrawal/isolation
 paranoia
 localized pain
https://www.wcsap.org/help/about-sexual-assault/effects-sexual-assault

Sociological impact and mistreatment of victims[edit]

Main article: Post-assault treatment of sexual assault victims
After a sexual assault, victims are subjected to investigations and, in some cases, mistreatment.
Victims undergo medical examinations and are interviewed by police. During the criminal trial,
victims suffer a loss of privacy and their credibility may be challenged. Sexual assault victims may
also become the target of slut-shaming and cyberbullying. During criminal proceedings, publication
bans and rape shield laws operate to protect victims from excessive public scrutiny.

Secondary victimization[edit]
Rape is especially stigmatizing in cultures with strong customs and taboos regarding sex and
sexuality. For example, a rape victim (especially one who was previously a virgin) may be viewed by
society as being "damaged." Victims in these cultures may suffer isolation, be disowned by friends
and family, be prohibited from marrying, be divorced if already married, or even killed. This
phenomenon is known as secondary victimization.[28]
Secondary victimization is the re-traumatization of the sexual assault, abuse, or rape victim through
the responses of individuals and institutions. Types of secondary victimization include victim blaming
and inappropriate post-assault behavior or language by medical personnel or other organizations
with which the victim has contact.[29] Secondary victimization is especially common in cases of drug-
facilitated, acquaintance, and statutory rape.

Victim blaming[edit]
Further information: Victim blaming
The term victim blaming refers to holding the victim of a crime to be responsible for that crime, either
in whole or in part. In the context of rape, it refers to the attitude that certain victim behaviors (such
as flirting or wearing sexually provocative clothing) may have encouraged the assault. This can
cause the victim to believe the crime was indeed their fault. Rapists are known to use victim blaming
as their primary psychological disconnect from their crime(s) and in some cases it has led to their
conviction.[citation needed]
It has been proposed that one cause of victim blaming is the just world hypothesis. People who
believe that the world is intrinsically fair may find it difficult or impossible to accept a situation in
which a person is badly hurt for no reason. This leads to a sense that victims must have done
something to deserve their fate. Another theory entails the psychological need to protect one's own
sense of invulnerability, which can inspire people to believe that rape only happens to those who
provoke the assault. Believers use this as a way to feel safer: If one avoids the behaviours of the
past victims, one will be less vulnerable. A global survey of attitudes toward sexual violence by
the Global Forum for Health Researchshows that victim-blaming concepts are at least partially
accepted in many countries.
It has also been proposed by Roxane Agnew-Davies, a clinical psychologist and an expert on the
effects of sexual violence, that victim-blaming correlates with fear. "It is not surprising when so many
rape victims blame themselves. Female jurors can look at the woman in the witness stand and
decide she has done something 'wrong' such as flirting or having a drink with the defendant. She can
therefore reassure herself that rape won't happen to her as long as she does nothing similar."[30]
Many of the countries in which victim blaming is more common are those in which there is
a significant social divide between the freedoms and status afforded to men and women.

In predominantly Muslim countries[edit]

Rape is forbidden under Islamic law.[31] Some female rape victims are accused and punished for
having sex outside of marriage but there must be sufficient evidence before any sort of penalty is
given.

 Local courts in some third world countries regularly punish raped minor girls and women by
flogging them. But this is not according to the orthodox Sharia (Quran and Sunnah).[32]
 "In 1979, the government of Pakistan adopted the Zina Ordinance to bring the Penal Code into
accord with Islamic principles. Under this ordinance, women who report having been raped must
 prove that the intercourse was without consent. If unable to prove this lack of consent, they can
be charged with fornication. As a result, women are less likely to report rape..."[33]
Some rights advocates say that this aspect of Sharia law "not only negates the rights of women but
is also a misinterpretation of Islam".[34] (see also Hudood Ordinance.)
Mainstream Sunni Islamic scholars, like Imam Malik, clearly state that no punishment is applied on
the raped women. "The hadd (punishment) in such cases is applied to the rapist, and there is no
punishment applied to the raped woman"[35][36]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_and_aftermath_of_rape

What are common physical effects of sexual

assault and rape?
 Bruising

 Bleeding (vaginal or anal)

 Difficulty walking

 Soreness

 Broken or dislocated bones

 Sexually transmitted infections and diseases

 Pregnancy

What are common mental effects of sexual

assault and rape?
 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including flashbacks, nightmares,
severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts

 Depression, including prolonged sadness, feelings of hopelessness,

unexplained crying, weight loss or gain, loss of energy or interest in
activities previously enjoyed

 Suicidal thoughts or attempts. If you or someone you know is feeling

suicidal, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255.

 Dissociation, including not being able to focus on work or on schoolwork, as

well as not feeling present in everyday situations
What are common emotional effects of sexual
and rape?
 Changes in trusting others

 Anger and blame

 Shock

 Numbness

 Loss of control

 Disorientation

 Helplessness

 Sense of vulnerability

 Fear

 Self-blame/guilt for “allowing” the crime to happen

 Feeling that these reactions are a sign of weakness

What else could someone experience after a

sexual assault or rape?
Other circumstances can develop for a survivor after being sexual assaulted or
raped. A survivor may develop a negative outlook and feel “damaged”
or unworthy of a better life. Drug or alcohol abuse may also become an issue
as a way to cope with the overwhelming feelings. Women may also have trouble
with their menstrual cycle and fertility. In addition, survivors may experience:
 Chronic fatigue

 Shortness of breath

 Muscle tension
  Involuntary shaking

 Changes in eating and sleeping patterns

 Sexual dysfunction

http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/learn/sexual-assault-rape/effects-sexual-assault-and-rape

Physical Effects of Rape

Physical effects of rape can arise from both forced sexual assault and those not
involving forcible submission, such as drug assisted date rape. Forced sexual assault
frequently causes visible bruising or bleeding in and around the vaginal or anal area and
bruises on other parts of the body from coercive violence. But both forced and other
types of rape can have many other physical consequences:

 Painful intercourse (with significant other)

 Urinary infections
 Uterine fibroids – non-cancerous tumors in muscle wall
 Pregnancy
 Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) – HIV, genital warts, syphilis, gonorrhea,
chlamydia, and others

Psychological Effects of Rape

Victims experience both short and long-term psychological effects of rape. One of the
most common psychological consequences of rape is self-blame. Victims use self-
blame as an avoidance-based coping tool. Self-blame slows or, in many cases, stops
the healing process. Other common emotional and psychological effects of rape
include:

 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – feelings of severe anxiety and stress

 Depression
 Flashbacks – memories of rape as if it is taking place again
 Borderline personality disorder
 Sleep disorders
 Eating disorders
 Dissociative identity disorder
 Guilt
 Distrust of others – uneasy in everyday social situations
 Anger
 Feelings of personal powerlessness – victims feel the rapist robbed them of
control over their bodies
Aftermath of Rape
The aftermath of rape involves a cluster of acute and chronic physical and psychological
effects. It's important that victims receive comprehensive care that addresses both the
short and long-term effects of rape as they become apparent. Frequently a victim's
intimate relationship, if present prior to the assault, disintegrates within one year after
the rape. This only adds to the psychological impact of the rape on the victim. Victims of
extremely violent rape, or those who were assaulted repeatedly or at a very young age,
may need treatment for the rest of their lives. (more infomation about: Treatment for
Rape Victims)
https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/rape/effects-of-rape-psychological-and-physical-effects-of-rape

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.

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.

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.

Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse - Many perpetrators of sexual abuse are in a position of trust or
responsible for the child’s care, such as a family member, teacher, clergy member, or coach

https://www.rainn.org/effects-sexual-violence