Recieve a call from our psychologists in the next 30 mins to understand your treatment options better
Recieve a call from our psychologists in the next 30 mins to understand your treatment options better
10 October,2018 | Reading Time: 4 minutes
Any sexual behavior done through force – physical force, coercion, manipulation, and threats – is categorized as assault. It can range from unwanted touching, fondling, forcing someone to perform sexual acts, attempted rape, to rape. Sexual Violence against women and men has seen a marked increase in the past few decades.
Sexual assault has many short-term and long-term effects on the survivor’s mental health.
Psychological Effects of Sexual Assault
The physical effects of sexual assault are scary, but so are the mental health effects. Sexual trauma has a deep impact on an individual’s mental health. Each person reacts to sexual violence trauma in their own unique way. Personal beliefs, culture, and the environment surrounding the survivor affect their reactions.
Some may tell others right away about what happened, others might wait weeks, months, or even years. Some might be reluctant to open up about it, others might communicate their feelings well. It is important to listen with an open mind and respect their reactions, no matter what.
Though each person has their own individual response to such an event, most survivors feel shocked, fear, sorrow, guilt, and shame. In fact, survivors of sexual assault are at high risk for developing various mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc. This impacts the daily life of the individual. Furthermore, unprocessed trauma can even lead to suicide!
It is advised that survivors of sexual assault consult a mental health professional. Call us at +91 97414 76476.
Mental Health and Sexual Assault
The consequences of sexual violence on the mental health of the survivor are tremendous. They might suffer from:
PTSD is a mental health condition that is extremely common in survivors of traumatic events, like sexual assault. Some of the symptoms of PTSD in sexual assault survivors are:
Depression is a mood disorder that is seen amongst sexual trauma survivors. They might have persistent feelings of loss and sorrow. Depression can also render the survivors apathetic or detached from their life. The victim might have difficulty feeling positive emotions like joy.
A survivor of sexual assault might suffer from anxiety disorders and stress. They might be overly cautious and easily startled. They can even suffer from panic and anxiety attacks.
A sexual assault survivor might develop an eating disorder in the aftermath of the event. They might either starve themselves or overeat to cope with the stress.
It is very common that sexual assault survivors might fall into self-destructive habits. They might even self-harm. Many survivors might start abusing alcohol and illicit drugs to cope with the stress.
Emotional Effects of Sexual Assault
A survivor could also have trouble concentrating, have safety concerns, suffer from low self-esteem, and develop phobias. Some survivors might be in denial while others develop maladaptive beliefs & trust issues.
They might suffer from guilt and blame themselves. The social stigma of sexual assault can invoke feelings of shame and dread in the survivor. They can feel tense, wary and might feel that they are always in danger. Survivors can feel extremely vulnerable and have perceptions of lack of control. They might develop trust issues. They might isolate themselves and be unable to maintain relationships.
It is vital that the survivor gets guidance from a mental health professional for their long-term emotional & mental health.
Treatments for Sexual Assault
There are many types of therapy that can help sexual abuse survivors. Some of them are:
Depending on the context, the survivor, their background and beliefs, and the severity of the assault, a therapist may use a combination of these methods.
Impact on Loved Ones
Sexual assault leaves an impact on the survivor as well as their parents, spouses, children, and friends. Loved ones may not know how to react to the situation or offer support. They can feel helpless. Additionally, they might feel immense guilt for being unable to protect the victim.
Maintain the mental health of family & friends, while also supporting and listening to the survivor.
Educate yourself
Things to keep in mind when dealing with sexual assault survivors:
A survivor of sexual violence needs support, acceptance, and understanding from their loved ones. It is extremely difficult overcoming and cope with sexual assault, both for the survivor and their family. Such traumatic events can significantly affect the mental health of a person, and hence needs the guidance of mental health professional.
You can call us at +91 97414 76476 or visit our website for more information.