Rape victim stories can be very difficult to read, frightening and emotionally draining for some but stories of rape show other victims that they are not alone in their struggles.
Positive inspirational quotes are good for people with depression to have on-hand. Depression can make life so gray that you aren’t sure where the sunshine is hiding or if it will return
Physical Effects of Rape
Physical effects of rape can arise from both forced sexual assault and those not involving forcible submission, such as drug-assisted date rape. Forced sexual assault frequently causes visible bruising or bleeding in and around the vaginal or anal area and bruises on other parts of the body from coercive violence. But both forced and other types of rape can have many other physical consequences:
- Painful intercourse (with significant other)
- Urinary infections
- Uterine fibroids – non-cancerous tumors in muscle wall
- Pregnancy
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) – HIV and many others
Psychological Effects of Rape
Victims experience both short and long-term psychological effects of rape. One of the most common psychological consequences of rape is self-blame. Victims use self-blame as an avoidance-based coping tool. Self-blame slows or, in many cases, stops the healing process. For eg:
Depression
Sleep disorders
Eating disorders
Personality Disorder
Guilt
Anger
Frustration
Flasbacks
Traumatized
Aftermath of Rape
The aftermath of rape involves a cluster of acute and chronic physical and psychological effects. It’s important that victims receive comprehensive care that addresses both the short and long-term effects of rape as they become apparent. Frequently a victim’s intimate relationship, if present prior to the assault, disintegrates within one year after the rape. This only adds to the psychological impact of the rape on the victim. Victims of extremely violent rape, or those who were assaulted repeatedly or at a very young age, may need treatment for the rest of their lives.
