Sexual assault is an event that involves unwanted, non-consensual sexual conduct or behavior toward someone.
Rapeis a form of sexual assault, defined by unwanted sexual penetration forced through threats or physical means.
Sexual trauma refers to the lasting adverse effects on the survivor due to sexual assault.
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This includes effects on physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.
Specific statistics for different subgroups vary within the broader group of sexual assault survivors.
In all cases, men are most likely to be the perpetrators of sexual assaults.
In Children
In children, most sexual assaults happen by someone the child or adolescent knows.
The perpetrator is usually a family member or acquaintance.
For older adolescents, assaults most commonly occur in social situations, such as on a date.
The prevalence of sexual assaults drastically increases in children with disabilities.
Military
Sexual trauma within the military has received increased attention in recent years.
Those who reported being assaulted indicated an average of more than two such incidents in the previous years.
Some research shows that around 20% of women attending college will experience sexual assault or misconduct.
Women are more likely to becomeemotionally numband to psychologically distance themselves from the traumatic experience.
Men
Although men are much less likely to experience sexual assault than women, it still occurs.
By some estimates, around 1% to 3% of men are sexually assaulted.
The perpetrator is also male for most men who are raped.
Trauma Treatment Method
Trauma treatment should never be re-traumatizing.
There are manytreatments for traumathat can help you optimally deal with your experience.
Be sure that the mental health professional you work with has training and experience in treating trauma.
Symptoms, Short, and Long-Term Effects
Sexual assaultis often highly traumatic for an individual.
However, for survivors of sexual trauma, that number increases to 80%.
Dealing With Intimacy Issues
It’s normal to have changes in sexual desire after a sexual assault.
Giving yourself time to slowly figure out what you are comfortable with and what is enjoyable is essential.
Then, communicate your needs with your partner, and clarify if you want to stop.
Talking about intimacy issues with a mental health professional may be helpful.
It can also be challenging to think or talk about the incident.
Finding ways to build safety and trust can be a helpful place to start.
When looking for a therapist, find someone trained in trauma with experience working with sexual assault survivors.
Try connecting with others who had similar experiences by joining asupport group.
Support groups are available in person and online, such as throughSexual Assault Support Services.
Many other resources and support organizations are on the RAINN website.
Summary
Sexual assault is when someone experiences unwanted and non-consensual sexual contact or behavior.
Anyone can experience sexual assault, including women, men, children, and service members.
Long-term symptoms can consist of rumination, emotional numbness, and isolation.
It’s also common to experience intimacy issues following a sexual assault.
It may be difficult to talk about what happened, but try not to isolate yourself from others altogether.
Connect with those you’ve got the option to trust, and seek support.
Remember that you are not alone; there is help to get you through your trauma.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hypersexualityis when a person has elevatedlibidoand sexual desire and difficulty controlling sexual impulses.
Hypersexuality after sexual assault doesn’t mean something is wrong with the survivor.
It is a symptom of psychological pain.
Treatment after a sexually traumatic experience will look different for different people.
Psychotherapy with a trauma-trained mental health professional may be best for others.
Asexuality is when someone experiences little or no sexual attraction to others.
Asexuality is not sparked by sexual assault.
For some people, experiencing a sexual trauma will cause a decreased interest in sex or lowered libido.
This is not the same as being asexual.
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