The February 2011 sexual assault of CBS news reporter Lara Logan during her coverage of the Egyptian uprising is a stark reminder that any woman is vulnerable to assault, regardless of her public status. You don’t have to travel to a distant country during political upheaval to be at risk. According to the National Violence Against Women Survey (2000), 17.6% of American women have been victims of an attempted or completed sexual assault. And while men can be sexual assault survivors, 90% of rape victims are women.
Here are some statistics on sexual assault:
- In the United States, someone experiences a sexual assault every 98 seconds.
- 34% of rape survivors under 18 were assaulted before they were 12 years of age.
- 64% of women who were raped, assaulted, or stalked after the age of 18 indicated they were victimized by a current or former boyfriend, partner, or husband (National Violence Against Women Survey, 2000).
- 55% of sexual assaults occur at the victim’s home or near the victim’s home.
- Girls between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely to experience sexual assault or attempted sexual assault.
Rape is a criminal act of violence. The victim is never to blame, regardless of the circumstances. However, the FBI estimates only 37% of completed or attempted rapes are reported to law enforcement officials.
What typically occurs following a sexual assault? Most survivors initially experience wide-ranging, intense and sometimes contradictory emotions. Anxiety, fear, and even disbelief are common. Individuals may be in shock and feel like their life has been destroyed. They may be afraid to socialize, travel, or even go to work or school. Developing trusting relationships may seem almost impossible. They may feel rage toward the perpetrator, yet experience irrational feelings of self-blame. Many victims question whether they provoked the attack by how they dressed or acted, wonder if they could have foreseen or prevented what occurred, and harbor feelings of shame.
Just as disturbing as the initial reaction are the long-term consequences. According to the World Health Organization (2002), sexual assault victims are three times more likely to become depressed, four times more likely to consider suicide, six times more likely to experience posttraumatic stress, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol, and 26 times more likely to abuse drugs. For example, some survivors develop symptoms of PTSD where they experience intense anxiety, flashbacks or nightmares of the event, and phobic avoidance of situations that are a reminder of the trauma. Some survivors also develop eating disorders or engage in self-injury such as cutting in an attempt to minimize or avoid painful memories. At a minimum, problems in relationships, sexual difficulties, and feelings panic and anxiety can persist for years.Sexual assault survivors need information, support, compassionate understanding, and sometimes counseling to aid in their recovery. At first, individuals should seek medical attention, reach out to family and friends for emotional support. They may also consider whether to file criminal charges. It is surprising how often these steps are not taken due to fear of blame, public exposure, retaliation, or rejection from loved ones. Family and friends need to encourage their loved one to get the medical attention needed, encourage them to get information about their legal options, provide reassurance that they are not to blame, and help them recognize it is very common to exhibit a range of emotions and behaviors.
While initial reactions of anxiety, sadness, anger, and avoidance can be expected, if these reactions persist, significantly interfere with work, school, or social relationships, or evolve into more serious symptoms such as depression, PTSD, eating disorders, self-harm, or addictive behaviors, the individual may benefit from therapy. A variety of treatment approaches can be used to address different effects of the assault, depending on the symptom that the individual is experiencing. These can range from short-term, cognitive behavioral techniques for managing anxiety or intrusive thoughts to more intensive therapy that addresses coexisting symptoms such as an eating disorder or drug abuse. Couples therapy can be helpful when interpersonal anxiety or sexual problems interfere with a relationship. Some individuals also benefit from participation in support groups for survivors of rape or sexual abuse. Regardless of the type of support, it is critical that any person who is assaulted receive the support they deserve.
Helpful resources on sexual assault:
- www.rainn.org – Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
- www.aardvarc.org – An Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Collection
- www.stopfamilyviolence.com – A resource about domestic violence
© Copyright 2011 by Gail Post, PhD. All Rights Reserved. Permission to publish granted to GoodTherapy.org.
The preceding article was solely written by the author named above. Any views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. Questions or concerns about the preceding article can be directed to the author or posted as a comment below.
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Sexual Assault Awareness: How You Can Help
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