Signs of Abuse
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Common Reactions to Sexual Assault
Each survivor of sexual assault responds uniquely to the assault, and the recovery process is different for each individual. These reactions may be experienced days, months, or years after an assault. Survivors suffer a great deal of physical and emotional trauma as a result of a sexual assault. Responses to a sexual assault can be immediate or delayed.
The following is a list of reactions to sexual assault. It is not a comprehensive list but rather a sampling of common post-assault symptoms. Survivors can expect to experience some or many physical, emotional, cognitive, or social symptoms listed below:
Physical Effects | Emotional Effects | Cognitive Effects | Social Effects |
Changes in eating patterns Changes in sleeping patterns Eating disorders Fatigue Gastrointestinal Irritability Headaches HIV/AIDS Muscular tension Nightmares Physical injuries Pregnancy Sexually transmitted diseases Substance abuse Soreness Stress related depression Immune system responses | Anger Anxiety Denial Depression, sadness Embarrassment, feeling exposed, humiliated Fear Helplessness Hopelessness Muscular tension Mood swings Numbness Obsessions/compulsions Phobias Sense of disbelief Sense of unreality Shame, guilt, self-blame Vulnerability Shock | Am I damaged goods? Am I dirty? Bad things happen to bad people, good things happen to good people; therefore I must be bad Confusion Difficulty concentrating Flashbacks I deserved it because...If I forget about it, it will go away...What if I hadn't done...? What will people think? Why me? Will others reject me? Will they blame me? | Changes in lifestyle Difficulty getting things accomplished Difficulty with intimacy Difficulty/apprehension around men or apprehension around persons having similar attributes to the perpetrator Discomfort around other people Disruption in sexual relations Fear of being alone Fear of leaving house (especially alone) Fear/nervousness in crowds Hypersensitivity when relating to others Loss of trust in self and others Withdrawal from people, relationships, activities |
Source: Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center at the University of Michigan
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