Emotional Responses
Page Contents
How RVAP Can Help You | Feelings and Reactions | Resources
How RVAP Can Help You
- We believe that you are never to blame for an assault against you.
- We are here to assist you in the process of recovery.
- We can act as a personal link between you and law enforcement officials, medical personnel, mental health care professionals and other agencies or services that may be involved in assisting you.
- We ensure that you get the information you need, that you’re listened to, and that you’re treated with the sensitivity and respect you deserve.
Feelings and Reactions
Here are some common feelings and reactions shared by many victim/survivors:
- Increased fear and anxiety
- Self-blame and guilt
- Helplessness, feeling like you have no control over your life
- Humiliation and shame
- Lowering of self-esteem, feeling dirty
- Anger (at self and others)
- Feeling alone and that no one understands
- Feeling like you need to be alone (self-isolating)
- Losing hope for the future
- Emotionally numb
- Confusion /Poor concentration
- Loss of memory
- Constantly thinking about rape (intrusive thoughts)
- Having flashbacks of the rape; like it was happening again
- Nightmares
- Depression
- Feeling constantly tired/ wanting to sleep all the time
If you have experienced any -- or all -- of these feelings or responses, know that you are not alone. Rape is not only an attack on the body, but also an attack on the spirit and the psyche. Regardless of the circumstances of your assault, whether it happened today or years ago, a trauma that affects you on so many levels takes time to heal. You are healing from a traumatic and life-threatening crisis even if you don’t have cuts and bruises.
Resources
- Learn More about: Victim Impact | Trauma | Physical Responses
- Other Online Resources | Lending Library
- Find a Sexual Assault Center Near You: Nationwide | In Iowa Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline
