It was written for my Writing 121 class taught by Jess Lamb at Portland Community College, in the Fall term of 2007.
*Due to blog formatting I have not posted my resources. If you would like to see them please contact me and I will forward them to you.
Sexual Assault: Effects and Coping Strategies
Based on the US Department of Justice's National Crime Victimization Survey, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted every two and a half minutes (West, Every Two and a Half Minutes, calculation based on USDOJ NCVS data). This equals approximately 24 people per hour, 576 people per day, and 210,240 people annually. The results of this survey also indicate that a third of these assaults are rape.
To understand the complexity of this issue we must first understand what sexual assault is. The United States Justice Department defines sexual assault as "rape, attempted rape, and other violent felonies that fall short of rape" (West, Every Two and a Half Minutes). An example of a felony that falls short of rape would be molestation, which is the act of forcing physical and sexual contact on another person (Merriam-Webster). However, what is considered sexual assault will vary depending on who you are asking. Some have limited its definition to "acts of sexual intercourse and penetration" (e.g. rape). In Elizabeth Paolucci’s research this definition has been extended to include inappropriate sexual comments and/or observing sexual behaviors taking place between one or more persons (20). For the purpose of this paper ‘sexual assault’ will be defined as unwanted sexual contact (i.e. rape, oral sex, molestation), as well as witnessing the aforementioned physical contacts, and/or being forced to feed anothers sexual desire against your will either physically or verbally.
I am a survivor of rape, incest, molestation, and years of verbal sexual assault. Because of my experiences I believe it is important to be aware of the emotional and physical effects of sexual assault. Understanding what is happening to the mind and body as a result of surviving this kind of trauma can help survivors gain more control over the effects of sexual assault, as well as help them on a healthier road to recovery (Ford 477). The way a person is affected by sexual assault will depend on several things including the way they were abused, their age when the event took place, their age when the abuse is first mentioned, and the response they receive from friends, family and community when the abuse is no longer a secret (Rainn.org, Incest).
While all forms of sexual assault can cause emotional damage, the effects of incest can be especially damaging. Incest is when the survivor is assaulted by a family member. In 1997 the Bureau of Justice Statistics conducted a study revealing that 34.2% of juveniles who had survived sexual assault were abused by someone in their family (Rainn.org, Sexual Assault of Children).
After going through a traumatic experience it is normal to have symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as other emotional and physical issues. A person may be affected by one single symptom, or by several. For some these symptoms will begin almost immediately after the abuse has occurred; other people may not experience any symptoms for months, or even years after the abuse. There are some survivors who will experience these symptoms continuously over an extended period of time, while others will experience them for a prolonged period on an off-and-on basis. These responses tend to be automatic and at times will feel like they are impossible to turn off. Their intensity can be so great that they interfere with everyday life (ncptsd.gov, What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder).
While anxiety is often experienced during a stressful situation, it can also sneak up on you from out of the blue, and it can be incredibly uncomfortable. Merriam-Webster describes anxiety as a painful uneasiness of the mind; it can make you paranoid, worried, uncertain, and scared. Anxiety can also have physical effects (known as psychosomatic responses or body memories) such as headaches and stomach aches (Rainn.org, Body Memories). Anxiety for me is almost always accompanied with nausea and a tension that seems to be leaking out from under my skin; it feels like my flesh is separating from my bones.
Psychosomatic responses related to abuse are caused by the relationship between the body and the mind. These symptoms include not only head and stomach aches, but can also cause sleeping disorders, stomach related issues such as indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome, and flu like symptoms. In 2005 I was sent to the hospital with a 103 degree fever. My body was throbbing with pain; it felt as though I had been hit by a truck. The only cause the doctors could find was stress-induced psychosomatic symptoms. Body memories may also occur during sexual activities. When this happens it can feel as though the assault is happening all over again, this can lead to feelings of anxiety and/or guilt (Rainn.org, Body Memories).
These symptoms are sometimes accompanied by depression, though depression is capable of playing the emotional villain all by itself. Depression is a continual sense of hopelessness and despair; it is a thief that robs you of the person you remember being. Living with depression makes a person feel that the weight of the world is on their shoulders, slowly crushing their worth, dignity, and purpose. Those who suffer from depression tend to lose interest in things that were once important to them (i.e. hobbies, work, social activities, etc.) It increases irritability and can make concentrating and decision making arduous tasks (Paolucci 21).
The previously mentioned effects can be intensified by the occurrence of flashbacks. The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) states:
"Flashbacks are when memories of past traumas feel as if they are taking place in the current moment. These memories can take many forms: dreams, sounds, smells, images, body sensations, or overwhelming emotions. This re-experience of the trauma often seems to come from nowhere and, therefore, blurs the lines between the past and present... Some flashbacks are mild and brief... others may be powerful and last a long time."
It is not always obvious that a flashback is taking place and the person may only "feel faint or dissociate" (Rainn.org, Flashbacks).
Flashbacks may seem to happen more frequently during the time of year when the trauma took place. This is known as an "anniversary reaction" and can make it difficult to sleep or focus. This can cause intensified anxiety, irritability, and the desire to avoid persons, objects, and/or locations that remind you of the trauma. These symptoms usually last between a couple of days to a couple of weeks. If the issue persists it is recommended to seek the help of a professional to help you work through them. Over time these symptoms generally tend to work their way out of your system (Hamblen, Anniversary Reactions).
Usually all of the above mentioned symptoms will go away after a few months of experiencing them. However, for some they will continue for months, years, or for the person’s entire life. If this occurs it is likely that the person has developed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). People with PTSD often feel that they are not normal, and often engage in activities that can be more damaging than helpful. These activities include self harm, drug use, alcohol abuse, promiscuity, and increased suicidality (Ford 475).
This disorder often causes those who have it to dissociate, sometimes to an extreme. In April 2005 I had an episode where I was so detached it was as though I was sitting in a corner watching myself from across the room, as well as sitting at the top of a tall set of bleachers in the back of my mind. During the episode I cut my legs with a razor; while my hand was dragging the razor across my skin I was telling myself to stop and trying to put the razor down, but I couldn’t. It was as if I had no control over my body. It was so surreal, the only reason I knew it wasn’t a dream is because of the evidence on my thighs the next morning.
Julian Ford states that PTSD "involve[s] a loss of control over ones memory... [such as] unwanted, persistent, and fragmented memories" (480). The intensity of PTSD will differ from person to person. According to the National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) the effects of this disorder will eventually de-escalate and even disappear. However, approximately one third of those with PTSD will always have symptoms (What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder).
The emotional aftermath following sexual assault is difficult to handle, but the effects are treatable. On the road to recovery it is important to use appropriate coping skills. Many people will deal with their trauma by trying to numb themselves with drugs and alcohol. Some survivors become promiscuous and begin experimenting with their sexuality at an early age (Paolucci 21). Others will engage in acts of self-harm. Laura E. Gibson, Ph.D. defines self-harm as "the deliberate, direct destruction of body tissue that results in tissue damage" (ncptsd.gov, Self Harm). This includes, but is not limited to cutting and burning the skin, as well as eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. These negative coping skills can result in addiction which can make the road to recovery more complicated and more difficult; and in some cases can increase the occurrence of anxiety and depression.
Because these methods of coping can be addictive it may be necessary to seek treatment for them as well as for the unwanted effects of abuse. Ford and her colleagues, Eileen Russo and Sharon Mallon, are finding that integrating the treatment for Substance Use Disorders and PTSD can be quite helpful. Using a twelve-step recovery program similar to that of Alcoholics Anonymous, they are able to help people deal with the effects of their trauma and of their addictions (Ford).
For dealing with symptoms, both of abuse and negative copings, it is encouraged to seek the help of a professional. This can make many people uncomfortable as it puts you in a vulnerable situation. If you decide to seek professional help, remember that not all therapists are the same, just like not all survivors are the same. It is okay to try out several therapists until you find the one that works for you. I saw at least five different therapists before I found one that worked for me. In the beginning it seemed like I would never find one I was comfortable with, but it was well worth the search.
Seeing a therapist for the first time can be very intimidating and, for some, embarrassing. Remind yourself that people see therapists for a variety of reasons; it does not mean that you're crazy or abnormal. Services are confidential.
There is also the option of group therapy. This can be very helpful in reminding a person that they are not alone. There are a lot of survivors out there and looking to one another for support and encouragement can help a lot.
If you feel that your symptoms are really extreme, talk to your therapist to see if spending some time at an in-patient facility would be beneficial for you. Again, these services are confidential.
As stated earlier, many people feel uncomfortable or ashamed for seeking professional help. If this is one of the worries on your mind, remember that it takes a lot of courage and inner strength to seek help; instead of feeling embarrassed you should feel proud of yourself.
Sometimes professional help is not an option due to cost and/or a lack of information. Many mental health providers can work with you to set up payment plans, some even offer assistance programs that allow you to be treated free of charge. If you are having difficulty locating a mental health provider in your area, RAINN offers a search engine on their website, www.rainn.org that may be able to assist you. RAINN also offers a crisis hotline, 1-800-656-HOPE, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They have recently launched an internet crisis hotline which can be accessed via their website Monday-Friday from noon to midnight, and Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Eastern Time. The benefit to taking advantage of these hotlines is that they are free, confidential, and allow you to be anonymous.
Whether you choose to seek professional help or not, there are many things you can do to gain more control over your symptoms and decrease their severity. You can practice positive coping skills like exercising, keeping a journal, learning a new hobby or skill, etc. Maintaining a healthy diet can also help decrease the occurrence of depression (West, Self Care).
In the book Tuesdays With Morrie, the author talks with his old college professor, Morrie, every Tuesday for several months. They talk about coming to terms with life and the things that happen throughout its course. On the sixth Tuesday they discuss how Morrie handled his most troubling moments,
"'These were horrifying times,' [Morrie] said, and his first emotions were horror, fear, anxiety. But once he recognized the feel of those emotions, their texture, their moisture, the shiver down the back...he was able to say, 'Okay this is fear. Step away from it" (Albom 102-103).
His philosophy was that exposing yourself to emotions and allowing them to penetrate you completely is the only way to truly have control over them.
Morrie's empowering tactic can also be beneficial when learning how to manage your response to trauma memories. This tactic does not mean that a person must submit to the memories, but allows them to recognize what is happening and work through it. I use this tactic when I experience anxiety attacks. It doesn’t always make them go away, but I have found that it makes it easier for me to handle them. They are less intense and don’t last as long.
The road to healing is not an easy road to walk down, especially alone. Building a support system of people you trust can be helpful also, as these people can help pick you up when you fall. Above all else, remember that it’s okay to feel, okay to cry, and more than possible to heal.
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