𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚-𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗘𝗫𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗩𝗜𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘

Sexual violence, a profound betrayal of personal boundaries, extends its impact far beyond the immediate physical harm. The enduring scars on mental health often cast shadows that survivors grapple with for years, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive support, understanding, and destigmatisation.

𝟭. 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧-𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥

(𝗣𝗧𝗦𝗗)

𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Survivors may experience vivid, distressing memories of the assault, leading to flashbacks and intrusive thoughts that disrupt daily life.

𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗹: Constant states of heightened alertness, difficulty sleeping, and irritability are characteristic symptoms of PTSD resulting from sexual violence.

𝟮. 𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗫𝗜𝗘𝗧𝗬

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Survivors may grapple with profound feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a pervasive lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed.

𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆: Anxiety disorders, including generalised anxiety and panic attacks, can become enduring challenges for survivors navigating the aftermath of sexual violence.

𝟯.𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗦

𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀: Establishing trust in relationships can be challenging, as survivors may grapple with deep-seated mistrust and fear of vulnerability.

𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Sexual violence can disrupt one's ability to form intimate connections, leading to difficulties in establishing and maintaining healthy relationships.

𝟰. 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙-𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗠 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗢𝗗𝗬 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗨𝗘𝗦

𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁: Survivors often carry an unwarranted burden of shame and guilt, negatively impacting self-esteem and contributing to a distorted self-image.

𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲: Internalising blame for the assault can result in ongoing self-blame, hindering the process of self-compassion and acceptance.

𝟱. 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗠𝗦

𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: To numb the emotional pain, survivors may turn to substances, such as alcohol or drugs, as a coping mechanism, potentially leading to long-term addiction issues.

𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺: Some survivors resort to self-harm as a means of coping with overwhelming emotions, creating additional challenges for their mental well-being.

𝟲. 𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗣 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗦

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗻𝗶𝗮: Difficulty falling or staying asleep is a common long-term effect, perpetuating feelings of exhaustion and impacting overall mental health.

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀: Persistent nightmares related to the assault can retraumatise survivors during sleep, contributing to ongoing mental distress.

𝟳. 𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦

𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: Survivors may actively avoid situations, places, or activities that remind them of the assault, potentially limiting their engagement with various aspects of life.

𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗹: A reluctance to engage socially can result from the desire to minimise exposure to potential triggers and a general sense of mistrust.

𝟴. 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚

𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: Concentration and focus may be impaired as survivors grapple with intrusive thoughts and emotional distress.

𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Traumatic experiences can impact memory, leading to difficulty recalling specific details or events.

𝟵. 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚-𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙-𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗣𝗧

𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The trauma of sexual violence may contribute to a fragmented sense of self, making it challenging for survivors to establish a coherent and positive identity.

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀: Survivors may grapple with existential questions, leading to a spiritual crisis as they seek to make sense of their experiences.

Recognising and addressing the long-term mental health effects of sexual violence requires a multifaceted approach. Comprehensive therapeutic interventions, support networks, and destigmatisation efforts play pivotal roles in aiding survivors on their journey towards healing. By fostering understanding and empathy, society can contribute to creating a safer, more supportive environment for survivors to reclaim their mental well-being.

D.J.N

Fendo UK