Recovering From Sexual Abuse

WHAT IS SEXUAL ABUSE?

Sexual abuse or assault occurs when one person forces any unwanted sexual contact onto another person. It can involve a stranger, friend, partner, or acquaintance. It can involve any type of unwanted sexual behavior.

Being sexually abused involves both a physical and a psychological assault. Abuse victims experience a range of emotions that include fear, shame, anger, and depression.

Most sexual assault victims are women; most perpetrators are men. However, a significant number of men also are sexually assaulted. For the sake of simplicity, in this handout we refer to sexual assault victims as females.

 

WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF RECOVERY?

Sexual assault victims usually have three stages of emotional and physical reactions: shock, adjustment, and resolution.

Shock.
This stage usually lasts from a few hours to several weeks. The shock that the victim feels is combined with disbelief, fear, and anger. She may have a phobic reaction to the place where the sexual assault occurred. She may also have flashbacks (an immediate sense of reliving the sexual assault) and have trouble sleeping.

Adjustment.
During this stage, the victim feels that her life is beginning to return to normal and tries to regain some sense of control. She may deny the impact of the assault.

Resolution.
It is during this stage that healing occurs. It is often an uncomfortable period for the victim. She may have many of the same feelings that she experienced immediately following the assault, but now she is closer to resolving them. She may be depressed, experience mood swings, feel cut off from others, or need to isolate herself. During this stage, she may seek the services of a professional counselor.

 

WHAT ARE THE COMMON RESPONSES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT?

Most sexual assault victims report some of the following physical and emotional symptoms:

• Feelings of depression, sadness, and hopelessness
• Shame and embarrassment
• Shock and denial
• Nervous or jumpy feelings
• Poor appetite
• Reduced interest in activities
• Apathy
• Inability to trust others
• Loss of self-esteem
• Headaches
• Inability to express emotions
• Isolation
• Reduced interest in sex
• Self-mutilation
• Difficulty concentrating
• Hyper-vigilance
• Substance abuse
• Panic attacks
• Guilty feelings
• Irritability and anger
• Nausea and vomiting
• Thoughts of suicide and death
• Physical pain
• Nightmares and flashbacks
• Insomnia
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (chronic anxiety, depression, and flashbacks)
• Eating disorders

 

HOW DOES ONE RECOVER?

Crisis intervention.
This is an important first step. The first few days after an assault can be especially turbulent, and victims need the unique skills of counselors who are trained to respond to crises.

Individual counseling.
This is highly recommended. Any person who has been sexually assaulted will benefit from individual counseling sessions with a caring, experienced mental health professional.

Group therapy.
This is an excellent way for victims to talk about their experiences with others in a supportive, nonjudgmental atmosphere.

Couples counseling.
This can help the victim and her partner explore their feelings, talk about how the assault has impacted their relationship, and learn coping skills. Group therapy . . . is an excellent way for victims to talk about their experiences with others in a supportive, nonjudgmental atmosphere.

 

WHAT FACTORS AFFECT RECOVERY?

Since every person and every situation are different, victims of sexual assault respond to an assault in different ways. Many factors, including the following, can influence an individual’s recovery from sexual assault:

• Circumstances surrounding the assault
• Severity of the assault
• Victim’s relationship to the perpetrator
• Response of police and medical workers to the assault
• Victim’s age and maturity level
• Victim’s views of the assault and what meaning she gives it
• Victim’s support system
• Quality of response of the victim’s family and friends
• Community attitudes toward sexual assault

Based on these factors, some survivors of sexual assault recover fairly quickly. Others feel the effects of the experience throughout their lifetime.

 

WHERE CAN I GO FOR MORE INFORMATION?

Bass, E., and Davis, L. The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse. San Francisco: Harper- Collins, 1988.

Bradshaw, John. Healing the Shame That Binds You. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, 1988.

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