Rape trauma syndrome

Very often after a rape has happened, people will say things such as “it’s over now, you must get on with the rest of your life”, or they will not understand why six months after the rape has happened the survivor is still suffering from the effects of the rape.

This is because rape only begins with the physical act: Afterwards, the struggle to comprehend what has happened begins. Its meaning floods over the survivor who has to find a way to return to their life, their body and regain a sense of self.

Rape is as much a destruction of “self” as it is an act of physical invasion. The battle between this “mind-rape” and the survivor’s will to find themselves again requires huge determination and courage.

Rape Trauma Syndrome is the medical term given to the response that survivors have to rape (similar to post traumatic stress disorder).

Physical symptoms

  • Immediately after a rape, survivors often experience shock. They are likely to feel cold, faint, become mentally confused (disorientated), tremble, feel nauseous and sometimes vomit.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Gynaecological problems: Irregular, heavier and/or painful periods, vaginal discharges or bladder infections.
  • Sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Bleeding and/or infections from tears or cuts in the vagina or rectum.
  • A soreness of the body. There may also be bruising, grazes, cuts etc.
  • Nausea and/or vomiting.
  • Throat irritations and/or soreness due to forced oral sex.
  • Tension headaches.
  • Pain in the lower back and/or in the stomach.
  • Sleep disturbances. This may be difficulty in sleeping or feeling exhausted and needing to sleep more than usual.
  • Eating disturbances. This may be not eating or eating less or needing to eat more than usual.

Behavioural Symptoms

  • Crying more than usual.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Being restless, agitated and unable to relax or feeling listless and unmotivated.
  • Not wanting to socialise or see anybody or socialising more than usual, so as to fill up every minute of the day.
  • Not wanting to be alone.
  • Stuttering or stammering more than usual.
  • Avoiding anything that reminds the survivor of the rape.
  • Being more easily frightened or startled than usual.
  • Being very alert and watchful.
  • Becoming easily upset by small things.
  • Relationship problems, with family, friends, lovers and spouses. Irritability, withdrawal and dependence are factors which effect this.
  • Fear of sex, loss of interest in sex or loss of sexual pleasure.
  • Changes in lifestyle.
  • Increased substance abuse.
  • Increased washing or bathing.
  • Behaving as if the rape didn’t occur, trying to live life as it was before the rape: this is called denial.

Psychological Symptoms

  • Increased fear and anxiety.
  • Self-blame and guilt.
  • Helplessness, no longer feeling in control of their life.
  • Humiliation and shame.
  • Lowering of self esteem, feeling dirty.
  • Anger.
  • Feeling alone and that no one understands.
  • Losing hope in the future.
  • Emotional numbness.
  • Confusion
  • Loss of memory.
  • Constantly thinking about the rape.
  • Having flashbacks to the rape, feeling like it is happening again.
  • Nightmares
  • Depression.
  • Becoming suicidal.

There are many influences on the manner in which each individual survivor of sexual violence copes and on the length of time the symptoms may be present. These factors include:

  • Support systems
  • The relationship with the offender
  • The degree of the violence used
  • Social and cultural influences
  • Previous experience with stress
  • Ability to cope with stress
  • Attitude of those immediately contacted after the assault

It is important that we recognise that survivors will not respond in the same ways. While most will experience these symptoms, some survivors may only experience a few of these symptoms while others may experience none at all. We must be careful not to judge whether someone has been raped by the number of symptoms that they display. Because most survivors are afraid to tell anyone that they have been raped it is important that we treat anyone who says they have been raped, as if they have.

It has been observed by Gail Abarbenel, clinical social worker and Director at the Rape Treatment Center, Greater Los Angeles Area, that almost all rape survivors suffer severe and long lasting emotional trauma. The most significant factors that cause this appear to be a combination of the following features of the assault experience:

  • It is sudden
  • It is perceived as life threatening
  • Its apparent purpose is to violate the survivor’s physical integrity and/or render them helpless.
  • The survivor is forced to participate in the crime.
  • The survivor cannot prevent the assault or control the assailant, their normal coping strategies have failed. Thus they become a victim of someone else’s rage and aggression.

The trauma is usually compounded by the myths, prejudice and stigma associated with rape. Survivors who have internalized these myths have to fight feelings of guilt and shame. The burden can be overwhelming especially if the people they come into contact with reinforce those myths and prejudices.

This is why it is essential that all legal, medical and police procedures must not cause further trauma to survivor who must be given all possible support to overcome and survive the ordeal.