Counseling & Career Development Center
Common Responses to Sexual Assault
Many victims experience common responses to the experience of being sexually assaulted. While these responses are common, that does not make them any less important, or difficult for the victims to deal with.
- A survivor may feel ashamed, guilty, fearful, or numb. Often a survivor's self-esteem is diminished after an assault. It is important to remember that the attack is not his or her fault.
- A survivor may find it difficult to trust and to be intimate with others.
- A survivor may experience flashbacks of the incident.
- A survivor may experience fear of being alone.
- A survivor may experience nightmares or other sleep disturbances.
- A survivor may not be able to concentrate and focus. This can affect academic and/or job performance.
Common Feelings Following Sexual Violence
(as listed in, "Sexual Assault: Will I Ever Feel Okay Again?" by Kay Scott)
| angry embarrassed regretful impatient afraid ashamed relieved dazed weary discouraged resentful criticized sad cold shocked distressed horrified distant disoriented grieved desperate broken uneasy detached alone weak unhappy agitated bad lifeless torn |
stressed troubled empty defeated unsure numb hopeless disinterested dependent unworthy scorned dissatisfied unacceptable rejected helpless blown away traumatized hurt unlovable misjudged filthy shattered unglued vindictive want to forget hateful panic-stricken unprotected why? worthless despairing |
tense unsafe lifeless forgotten lost blamed shaky shamed hysterical fragile indignant confused annoyed robbed isolated anxious unloved uptight belittled used exhausted bottled up unwanted betrayed crushed forsaken edgy depressed paranoid abandoned desperate |
powerless miserable different bitter despondent violated damaged envious judged burdened humiliated disbelief defiled inadequate picked-on overwhelmed furious unfeminine insecure incompetent enraged terrible insignificant worried threatened misunderstood moody frustrated nervous crazy uncomfortable |
| Grateful to be alive I just don't understand No one understands Need to escape Always crying Can't ever cry when I want to I'll never get better Everything's changed My whole world is askew Unbearable pain Full of self-contempt |
Wish he had killed me Alone with memories Yearn to feel normal What's the use? Living in a prison On a roller coaster Maybe it was my fault Can't cope Can't trust Sick in the pit of my stomach Don't know who I am anymore |
Full of other-contempt Emotionally dead Don't care how I look Can't concentrate Want to disappear Should be finished with this by now Self-conscious about my body Can't shake it Responsible for others' pain Want to become invisible No control over what happens to me Want to look unattractive so no one will want to touch me |
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