Sexual assault can be a very traumatic experience and the aftermath may be very difficult. Rape Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (RR-PTSD) may occur and symptoms may include:

Re-Experiencing Trauma

• Victims may experience uncontrollable thoughts about the rape, and an inability to stop these thoughts.
• Many victims experience realistic nightmares and dreams about the actual rape.
• Some victims may become distressed by any event that symbolizes and reminds them of the trauma they experienced.
• Victims usually avoid talking about the rape and will actively avoid any situations or stimuli that remind them of the incident.

Social Withdrawal

• The next major symptom for sexual assault survivors is social withdrawal. It has often been described as an attempt to avoid emotions by numbing, and denial. Essentially feeling emotionally dead.
• Victims do not experience feelings of any kind, positive or negative.
• A diminished interest in living is an example of social withdrawal.  Victims may not be suicidal, but simply have no interest in their children, jobs, social interaction, and have feelings a very narrow range in which they experience emotions.

Avoidance Behaviors and Actions

• Victims may experience a general tendency to avoid thoughts, feelings or cues that could bring up the most traumatizing parts of the rape.
• This may be characterized by refusing to drive near where the rape occurred.

Increased Physiological Arousal Characteristics

• Victims may develop exaggerated startle responses, such as hyper-alertness and hyper-vigilance, in which the victim will pays is highly aware and pays attention to every sound and sight in their environment.
• Victims experiencing chronic RR-PTSD may have poor sleep patterns and develop sleep disorders. In addition, a victim’s memory may be impaired, and many victims have difficulties concentrating, which affects tasks that effect their day-to-day must lives.
• Some victims may exhibit irritability, hostility, rage and anger that produce further isolation.