Sexual Violence Awareness
What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence is the act of another individual causing unwanted or uncomfortable advances towards you or an individual that you might know. It is unfortunately a very common experience for both men and women of all ages to encounter in their lifetime. Being sexually violated can be extremely taxing and heart breaking. It may cause you or someone you know to deteriorate when isolating themselves. Causing a constant spiral of guilt, fear anxiety and many other reactions and interactions that they might have in the future. This can happen in any situation or place and there is a large importance on supporting and hearing out the person of sexual violence to the fullest if they share with you.
Signs of sexual violence and correlation to mental struggles
As one may expect, sexual violence can lead to struggles with mental health.There may be a large decline in the ability to sleep and do regular activities, being able to communicate to others what happened. Fear of the unknown not knowing how others will react to this knowledge may impact their ability to share and express emotions, frustrations and many more things. Once this being said the fear of being looked down on is not seen as strong enough. As these events can be highly impactful on a person's ability to cope with what has happened it is important to remember to support and be there for people who have experienced this type of violence. There are many different ways that a person can end up coping or having stressors on one's mental health.
Depression is a very common experience that one might go through after an event like this. There could be flashbacks of the event that could cause someone to have panic attacks. You might ask, “What are panic attacks?” Panic attacks refer to when someone like they are having loss of control over their breathing ability to ground strong emotions that come with remembering this event. Substance usage of any kind also may occur to cope with the situation. Additionally, dissociation could occur during the event or after when flashbacks occur. This could be in the event of extreme stress as the body's way to protect you from remembering the full event or someone you care from remembering the full event. Having trouble sleeping or changes in someones normal sleeping pattern can be a effect of sexual violence ; self harm after the event in many forms may come about for someone who is struggling with a recent or past sexual violence encounter. Changes in eating patterns may arise in connection to this as well. Suicide may also come for someone who has been sexually assaulted. It is important to remember that everyone copes and reacts differently in these types of situations and may not fit into certain boxes or have any of these effects on their mental well being.
Ways to support an individual or yourself who has been effected by sexual violence
Knowing that every person is very individualized in their healing process is a highly important first step when supporting someone or yourself with this type of experience. Being able to keep an open mind when talking and hearing about what happened. Taking the time to ask what they need from the situation, not pushing things that you might think they need. Letting them reach out for support if they need or want it when they are ready. Not pushing individuals to report sexual violence if they don’t feel comfortable to authorities but letting them know its an option: finding ways to support when going through potential mental health downfalls. Creating a safe space for someone you love to be in after the event including finding things that are not triggering to do with someone or yourself from day to day. Checking up on them to a normal extent not over checking up on someone; giving them the space to grieve the experience they have had. Some more actionable and behavioural things could be going out for food, having a night in with someone to create that safe and welcoming environment. Looking at ways to further create new memories and experience for this person. Overall, just doing what they might ask of you post this event or just letting them know you are present in their life.
Resources:
https://www.rainn.org/effects-sexual-violence