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What the helper may see in the reactions of raped women
Where rape is perceived to be the woman ’ s fault , it results in isolation , distress and suffering . The symptoms following rape are in general the same as the symptoms of severe trauma-disorders described above . For example , one initial response may be a shock reaction lasting for a few minutes or for days or weeks . Exaggerated shock-reactions , including panicked agitation and confusion or a paralyzed , mute , withdrawn state , can also occur . If the victim is injured , she will start to feel the pain of her injuries .
PART III : THEORY
Physical reactions ( such as headaches , dizziness , palpitations , breathing difficulties , feeling cold , fainting , trembling , nausea , and sometimes vomiting ) are quite frequent in the acute phase . Women frequently feel dirty , a response that may lead to compulsive washing . Fear of pregnancy , sexually transmitted diseases , and injuries to genital parts , also appear early on .
The survivor may show behavioural reactions . She may become emotionally unstable , have difficulties in concentrating , experience restlessness and agitation , be unable to relax , lose motivation , become withdrawn , avoid reminders , be easily startled or frightened , or very alert and watchful , be easily upset by small things , fear sex or lose sexual pleasure , change her lifestyle , increase substance abuse , wash or bathe frequently , or try to act as if nothing has happened ( denial ).
Recurring exposure to trauma
Women and children may live in a constant state of alarm . After exposure to recurring trauma over time , as a result of living in war or in constant danger , for example , a woman may struggle to control her reactions and use all her energy to do that . When the danger is over , her reactions usually intensify . She may also react by entering a chronic state of stress .
Sometimes post – traumatic reactions may appear gradually . Women may experience intense intrusive re-experiences while making efforts to avoid reminders of what happened . However , they will sleep badly , be on guard and startle easily . Because reliving a traumatic incident provokes strong emotional pain and fear , people tend to take conscious and unconscious steps to avoid situations that remind them of it . Survivors adopt different strategies to do this . In some cases , they isolate themselves ; women will stop going out and sever all contact with their friends and networks . Survivors may also try to protect themselves by understating the violence they have been subjected to . Women will say : “ it wasn ’ t so bad , and I want to forget it , put it behind me …”. These avoidance responses bring different consequences . An isolated life will strengthen a woman ’ s fear of reliving her traumatic experiences . Women who trivialise the violence they have suffered , or deny it happened , may find that they can manage for a while but in the long run may develop serious symptoms , because they spend so much energy on not reacting ( Berntsen 2005 ).
An improvement is often registered after three months ( Dahl 1993 ). However , almost all rape victims suffer severe and long-lasting emotional trauma . The sexual aspects of the crime are not the most significant factors causing psychological trauma . These appear to be caused by a combination of five distinct features of the assault experience ( Fanflik 2007 ).
• It is sudden and arbitrary .
• It is perceived as life threatening .
• It is perceived as de-humanising .
• The victim is forced into a position of subordination .
• The victim cannot prevent the assault or control the assailant ; her normal coping strategies fail . As a result , she becomes a victim of someone else ’ s rage and aggression .
• Her sexual integrity is violated .