Essay About Long-term Effects of Sexual Assault

Every day at least a hundred people are sexually assaulted in America, meaning that most people know several victims, yet many aren’t aware of how the assault will affect a victim's life. A large number of victims are also unaware of how their assault will change them and their future, leaving them to simply guess it won’t be bad for them. If so many are oblivious to the consequences of being assaulted then it’s likely that new victims may panic after being assaulted because they are unaware of their future. Sexual assault is a traumatic experience that often leads to a variety of long-term effects, these include survivors having a toxic relationship in their future, developing post-traumatic stress disorder, and avoiding sexual relations. Sexual assault is any sexual act, in any place, that occurs without consent from one of the participants. It is typical for victims of sexual assault to find themselves being affected by their assault in their future. The effect sexual assault has on victims can vary from feeling uneasy talking about it to developing a mental disorder from it. 

Survivors of sexual assault are likely to end up in toxic or unhealthy relationships after their traumatic experiences. Compared to people who were never assaulted, those who survive assault are more likely to develop or enter a toxic relationship caused by their assault. This is because sexual assault can cause a victim’s idea of love and affection to become warped. With a warped view of relationships, people can see abuse and assault as an expression of love or simply a normal thing in relationships. Having that mindset, survivors would be unable to easily see the problem with the abuse in their relationships. Matthew Moschella, writer of “The Long-term Effects of Sexual Assault on Romantic Relationships: A Qualitative Study” explains how during a study he found “More than one-third of the participants discussed being in an abusive or unhealthy relationship at some point after the sexual assault.” (scholars.unh.edu). The study gave further evidence to the claim that there is a bigger likelihood of having an unhealthy relationship for someone who’s a victim of sexual assault. After being sexually assaulted, it is common for survivors to have a toxic relationship at some point. 

A common result for survivors of sexual assault is to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. The development of this disorder is caused by the amount of impact trauma has on a survivor, in some cases people can have little to no symptoms of PTSD, while in other cases the symptoms could be life-changing and greatly harmful to a person. It is quite unlikely that a survivor of sexual assault will not end up with at least one symptom of PTSD. Matthew Tull, the writer of “PTSD After a Sexual Assault”, explains that “one study showing that roughly 70% of sexual assault victims experience significant levels of trauma, with 45% reporting symptoms of PTSD” (verywellmind.com). The study that displays how around 45% of victims had symptoms of PTSD, helps further explain the severity of the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder after sexual assault. Victims of sexual assault have a large probability of developing PTSD after the experience. 

Those who lived through being sexually assaulted often end up avoiding any type of sexual experience for an unpredictable amount of time. The avoidance of sexual experiences is common in those who have dealt with sexual trauma. These courses of action are because anything sexual can trigger a victim as their trauma is concerning that act. For example, sexual activities can cause survivors to have flashbacks of the assault as well as possibly experience horrible symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Although the amount of time that a survivor will avoid sexual activity is unpredictable, for some it may take a few months or less, while others may avoid it for many years to come. The article, “Sexual Assault Long-Term Effects”, addresses assault victims telling them, “You may find that sex stirs up frightening feelings associated with your assault” (eriecounty.oh.gov). Even as the article is addressing the victims, the quote still helps further display how common the future avoidance of sexual experiences is for those who survive an assault. Sexual assault survivors commonly avoid any sort of sexual experience, for an unforeseeable amount of time, to avoid unwanted feelings to arise. 

Based on this evidence, it is clear that sexual assault is a traumatic experience that may lead to multiple life-altering consequences. It is common for survivors of assault to have a toxic or unhealthy relationship at some point after their assault. There are many reasons that these relationships are typical for victims, ranging from a survivor being blind to abuse to feeling as if they will always have to be the victim. Another typical effect for survivors is to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. This disorder is common in survivors for they were a victim of trauma. Those who survive assault are also likely to avoid any sexual relations for an unprecedented amount of time. Sexual experiences could cause the person to remember or be forced to relive their assault, which often causes multiple negative emotions to arise. These are three of the most common long-term consequences survivors may face after their assault. Knowing of these effects is important for survivors and friends of survivors. Having knowledge of the consequences and how they affect someone could help a survivor figure out what they are going through or simply make them feel understood and safe. Those who care for someone who lived through sexual assault can also gain from knowing about these effects, for it may help them understand what the person and going and through and even how to support them.