Sexual assault can happen to anyone and the mental health implications are wide spread. In my experience as a Psychologist sexual assault is a common occurrence. A sexual assault affects the way a person views themselves and their ability to trust others. For some people it makes them question whether the world is a safe place.
The definitions of sexual assault can be confusing and unclear. For the purposes of this article I will use the term sexual assault to cover sexual abuse, rape, groping, sexual torture, and any other behaviour which includes some form of sexual violence. Sexual assault can be defined as unwanted sexual connection which has usually not been consented to and usually involves coercion. No consent means that a person has not agreed to an act. It is important to remember that consent can be removed at any point during a sexual act. Coercion means that someone is persuaded using force or threats. Coercion can also mean using insistence, pressure, and influence including offering gifts, shelter, substances, money, protection and/or affection in exchange for sexual activity. If you report a sexual assault to the police, there are different legal terminologies used in Australia depending on the state specific legislation. These are very specific and usually describe the acts which have occurred. The reason the definition is important as many survivors do not realise what has happened to them is illegal and blame themselves for the assault.
Who are the survivors of sexual assault?
One in five women in Australia have been sexually assaulted or threatened and half of all women have been sexually harassed after the age of 15 years. One in six women had experienced abuse by the age of 15 years. At least 1 in 20 men have been sexually assaulted or threatened. However, we know that sexual assault is under reported and so these figures may be lower than the actual numbers.
You are most likely at every age to be sexually assaulted by someone you know or are acquainted with. The idea of a stranger snatching someone off the street is actually an incredibly rare occurrence. Your home is the most common place that a sexual assault occurs. Two out of five women are assaulted in their home and one in six are assaulted while they are voluntarily in their perpetrators home. The most common perpetrator is a ‘non-familial known person’ in other words someone not related but known to you. Only about 10 to 15 percent of sexual abuse is committed by someone not known to the child.
Who are the perpetrators of sexual assault
Statistics indicate that 90% of perpetrators are male. The vast majority of people who commit sexual violence are men, however historically there may have been an under reporting of female perpetrators.
Sexual violence is often targeted at young people and it is also often committed by young people. With between one third and half of sexual abuse on a child perpetrated by another child or someone under the age of 18 years. The same research which found identified these rates also found that the most common age of referral to a sex abusers’ program was 15 years, however a third of all their referrals were for children aged 13 years and under.
Sexual abuse by a sibling is surprisingly common and under-reported. In one study of children who had been sexually abused it was found that over half were abused by a sibling. Most of the survivors of sibling abuse are female and under the age of 13 years. As with other types of sexual violence males are the most common perpetrators.
Rather than the stranger scenario we need to acknowledge that a sexual assault is more likely to occur in a familiar place by someone known to the victim.
Alcohol
Alcohol is a common feature in sexual assaults. In many cases the victim of a sexual assault sees their own intoxication as a contributing factor to the assault. This makes them less likely to report the assault and can also lead to feelings of guilt or shame.
Fight, Flight, Freeze
When discussing sexual assault, it is always important to consider the flight, fight, and freeze responses. These are our bodies natural reactions to life threatening situations. These are central nervous system (CNS) responses and are seen across many animal species. There are three common patterns of behaviour for people of all ages and genders when they feel scared or threatened. Fight includes yelling or being physically aggressive. Flight includes physically leaving a situation such as running away. Freeze is characterised by becoming paralysed by fear or giving up. Freeze is an important reaction and not well understood by many people. Freeze responses are particularly common in children and in people who have experienced other traumatic events. Freezing involves staying in the situation but shutting down. Parts of the brain shut down in order to protect the person from the trauma which is occurring. This is a very common response when you feel unable to fight or flee such as when you are trapped or cannot win a fight. The freeze response occurs in most animals and can be seen on nature programs when a gazelle lays down during a lion attack. Freezing can involve dissociation which is a process of disconnecting from thoughts, feelings, and memories. A freeze response is often the most helpful choice as it can protect you from being fully present in a horrible situation. Many of the people I have worked with have wondered why they didn’t fight, say no or run away. Once they understand the freeze response this can help them realise their body did what it needed to in order to survive the situation.
Mental Health
A sexual assault can have a range of effects on a person’s mental health. Some people develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder including hypervigilance or re-experiencing of the assault. Other common mental health concerns which occur after a sexual assault include depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and eating disorders. Many survivors of sexual assault also experience shame, isolation, shock, confusion, and guilt. One recent study found 80% of teenage girls experienced a serious mental illness after a sexual assault.
I have discussed complex trauma previously and trauma reactions can become more complicated in situations where the perpetrator is providing the necessities of life such as a parent or spouse (if you are unable to work). The trauma response can also be more complicated if the sexual assaults occurred over time or with different people. In situations where complex trauma has occurred people often develop behaviours and beliefs that help them survive a horrible situation, however once they have escaped from that situation, they may want to learn new ways of behaving. Psychologists can help by providing a safe forum to explore the effects of the trauma.
Our Psychologists understand how difficult experiences of sexual assault can be to talk about. We can give you the time and space needed to develop trust before you decide to talk about these experiences. We offer a confidential service and can help you work through these experiences at a pace that feels comfortable for you. If you are struggling to find someone to talk to about what has happened to you PsychHelp can offer you a service which you can access from the comfort of your own home and we have experience in helping people overcome the negative effects of sexual assault.
