Sexual assault can be an extremely difficult and life-altering experience for most individuals. It can impact every aspect of a survivor's life and recovery can be a lifelong process. Survivors of rape and sexual assault can have a range of responses to their assault. It is important to note, however, that the way one individual responds to his/her sexual assault may be very different from the way another reacts to it.
Responses to sexual trauma are deeply subjective and can be impacted by several factors such as family and culture, social support, resilience, coping skills and age. So as not to pathologize survivors' responses, it is important to understand that post-trauma responses are the body's natural responses to any form of sexual assault.
Having support from people you trust is likely to go a long way in your healing. But sometimes, the support our loved ones can offer is not enough. This is when psychotherapy or counselling from a qualified mental health professional can be crucial and helpful. Your journey towards healing is likely to have many ups and downs, but it is a journey that could be deeply beneficial for you to feel in charge of yourself and your life.
If you have access to and can afford to see a trained psychological counsellor, I recommend it highly. You might also find support in reading about the psychological effects of rape and sexual assault and how to cope with them. I recommend the following books. These will be useful to both survivors of rape and sexual assault and those counselling them.
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence—from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror
By Judith Herman, M.D.
This book is a must-read for mental health professionals, but it can be very helpful to survivors as well. Dr Herman offers a wonderful framework to understand trauma and heal from it.
The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment
By Babette Rothschild
This is an excellent book in which Rothschild writes lucidly about the symptoms of post-traumatic stress and the impact of trauma on the body. This book can help clinical psychologists integrate mind and body in their treatment of survivors.
Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society
Edited by Bessel A. van der Kolk, Alexander C. McFarlane, and Lars Weisaeth
This outstanding book presents theory and research on post-traumatic stress disorder. It has several essays written by established authors related to the history of trauma, reactions and adaptations to trauma, trauma and the brain/body, societal and cultural issues, and treatment of trauma. This book will be most helpful for mental health professionals.
Dr Shaayestah Merchant, a licensed clinical psychologist from Denver, Colorado, specializes in the treatment of survivors of various types of trauma including but not limited to sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.