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Rape Trauma Syndrome

Survivors of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault suffer a significant degree of physical and emotional trauma during and immediately following the assault and for a considerable period of time after the assault. The symptoms that are consistently felt over and over by survivors are clustered into a group called rape trauma syndrome. All these feelings and disruptions can occur one or many at a time. They can come and go. Some people try to block out the painful thoughts and memories; others need to talk about their experience over and over again.

Both adult and child survivors experience post-assault trauma, and in much the same way but with differences specific to their ages. Both female and male adult survivors experience this trauma in much the same way, with one major difference: when men are assaulted - whether by other men or, more infrequently, by women - the masculinity of the victim is questioned. When women are assaulted by men (the most common form of sexual assault), there is no questioning of the victim's femininity; "victimness" has become part of the social construction of "female." Another prevailing cultural assumption when women are assaulted is that they did something to invite the assault, that it was somehow their fault.

Most survivors feel alone in their experience, isolated from others, sometimes "crazy," and frustrated. These are normal responses to an abnormal experience. The following is a general and brief description of the stages of rape trauma syndrome.

Crisis or Acute Stage - This stage occurs immediately after the assault. It may last a few days to several weeks and may return during the following years. Some of the characteristics are:

• fear - of physical injury, mutilation and death

• anxiety attacks and crying spells, mood swings and depression

• difficulty concentrating, making simple decisions, doing normal tasks

• disturbances in sleeping and eating patterns

• feeling numb, with little emotion

• poor recall of the assault or other memories

• feelings of humiliation, guilt, shame, embarrassment, self-blame, anger, confusion, powerlessness.            A survivor may cry, shake or appear to be agitated and restless, or seem calm, controlled, "spacey," or laugh hysterically, as if an assault had never occurred. All are normal responses.

Outward Adjustment Stage - This can last from a month to many years. In this stage survivors attempt to resume their normal lifestyle and put the assault behind them. Sometimes they appear to have succeeded but internal turmoil may still be affecting them in some of these ways:

• denial-attempts to block thoughts of the assault

• continued anxiety, helplessness

• withdrawal from family and friends

• deterioration of normal routine - not wanting to go out or be involved

• change in sexual behaviors, attitudes

• misdirected or self-directed anger

• depression, substance abuse, eating disorders

Integration and Resolution - The assault is no longer the central focus of the survivor's life, however, any of the feelings of the first two stages may reappear. The return of those feelings is often due to re-stimulation of memories of the assault. This can happen several years later and cause fear and confusion. Support and reassurance can help the survivor realize that while she will never forget the assault, it is just one part of her life experience.