Phases of Rape Trauma
Phases of Rape Trauma
(for full version of the original article, follow the link)
By Linda Castoria
Italicized Comments are by Katt
PHASE ONE - ACUTE OR IMPACT STAGE
This stage is characterized by a rise in tension in response to stress. There is an increase in the level of tension and an increase in the feelings of being upset. At this point, the problem may be: (a) solved; (b) redefined in order to achieve needed satisfaction; or (c) avoided through needed resignation and relinquishment of goals.
If the rape crisis is not solved, major disorganization may ensue. The rape victim may have general feelings of helplessness, state of confusion and inability to think clearly about how to evaluate reality.
This first phase has been described as an acute reaction taking the form of shock, disbelief and dismay. This may begin when victims first realizes they must deal with the consequences of the rape, pressing charges, friends' attitudes, etc.
In the first moments, hours and days immediately following the rape, the acute reaction may be in the form of shock, disbelief and dismay. A victim may be agitated, incoherent or in a highly volatile state. They may appear very stable and in control only to break down suddenly.
A few days after the assault, I had to move out of my dorm room. I was staying at my sisters for a day while she went to her bf's graduation. I don't remember much about before I went to her apartment, but I think I was numb.
I spent the whole day crying. I felt like my life was falling apart. I was terrified of being alone. It hurt so bad, and I had no idea why. I thought I was going crazy. And I didn't know why.
How soon and to whom a victim tells about the rape provides an early clue about their own feelings of what happened to them and their role in it. This is why talking to someone is so important -- so they can help clarify feelings, help make decisions on reporting the rape and giving options for medical and legal assistance. There is usually a marked decrease in the victim's anxiety after discussing the incident with someone.
I had no idea I had been sexually assaulted. So I doubt I resolved this stage "normally"
If a victim seeks support, this phase usually resolves within a few weeks. They must be given informative support as well as support counseling to turn their non-specific anxiety into helping them concentrate on resolving problems created by the rape (i.e., whether or not to report, whether or not to press charges, whether or not to tell family or friends).
This is why a rape crisis center plays such an important role during Phase One. A victim can be helped to consider alternative courses of action and their possible outcomes. A rape crisis center can help them notify family and accompany them to the police and the hospital emergency room for medical consultation and an exam. A victim is encouraged to consider how they will feel in a few weeks or months. Similar reactions of other survivors are discussed with them, and they are encouraged to seek counseling. Their fears, anger and depression are discussed.
woulda been nice. At least I could have known what was happening, instead of losing two years to insanity. Wouldn't have been much point to the hospital. Brian sexually assaulted me, but it wasn't rape. No physical evidence, no legal recourse.
Their feelings are validated as being a normal reaction for them.
This is what I needed more than anything. I still have doubts about my "right" to have all these reactions, I mean after all it wasn't full on rape. Someone saying "It's ok to hurt. It's ok to be traumatized" would have meant the world.
PHASE TWO - REPRESSION OR OUTWARD ADJUSTMENT STAGE
In this stage a victim goes about a lot of activity in an attempt discharge the inner tension or anxiety they may be feeling without any additional work on working through their true feelings. They return to normal activity and subdue their anger and resentment and rationalize what has happened, while gaining little insight into their own, true feelings about the rape.
While at home for Xmas immeadetly after the assault, I would stay on AOL till 4am talking to people. All men. I don't know what I was seeking. I just know being alone, doing nothing, was the most terrifying thing to me. I think this is when my fear of "never having a man" went over the top.
When I got back to school, I hardly slept, was up till all hours, not studying, but hanging out, talking on AIM, dating, making out with guys, anything to be active.
It is during this stage that there is heavy denial and suppression. They deny the rape had a personal impact on them,
I told myself it wasn't an assault. That I had failed, by not stopping Brian. And every time there after, when I couldn't enforce the barriers Brian had ripped through, I hated myself for failing yet again and they concentrates on protecting the feelings of those close to them and their concern.
It is important that they address their feelings about the rapist during this stage, but they usually subdue their feelings and go about their daily routine of life.
I didn't allow myself anger at Brian. I turned it all on myself.
PHASE THREE - POST-TRAUMATIC OR RESOLUTION STAGE
This phase begins when a victim develops an inner sense of depression and feels the need to talk about their feelings and the situation. Concerns, which have been dealt with superficially or denied successfully, reappear for more comprehensive review. The depression that sets in during this stage is psychologically normal in most cases.
I was actually on a date, another unhealthy relationship, when it just hit me. I realized I had been assaulted. I realized Brian had been wrong. I went home and wept, and tried to tell my parents. I think now that they were shocked. But then, I was hurt that they didn't seem to respond
In order to resolve feelings, a victim is encouraged to accept the rape and realize the impact it has had on their feelings and life.
This happened around 2 or 3 years later, maybe 4, After I married J. I had to go to counseling, because my life was falling apart. That's when M entered the picture, and when I got on anti-depressants. It's when life re-started for me.
The "If only I hadn't" statements emerge. They must allow their anger at the rapist to emerge instead of shying away from their feelings of anger and disgust.
I just started dealing with this issue this year. 'If I only hadn't been so naive. If I only hadn't gone that night. If I only hadn't stayed so late.'
What is so hard to realize is that I couldn't have changed who I was. It wasn't my responsibility. It was Brian's responsiblity to respect me. It was his responsibility to my needs above his. He chose not to.
It wasn't my fault. It was his
This phase may begin with a specific incident such as the case may going to trial soon, or if they realize they are unable to daily subdue fears and feelings as in Phase Two. They may find themselves thinking about the rape after seeing a person of the same race as the rapist, reading a magazine article or seeing a television show about rape or any unexplained situation.
Marriage made my hell impossible to ignore any longer.
During this phase, a victim usually re-contacts their rape crisis center counselor to help them identify their surfacing fears and feelings or help to prepare them for trial.
I've been in counseling most of my married life. I tried to quit once, with disasterous results. I'm healing, but it seems so slow.
But I will survive. I will not remain Brian's victim. I will reclaim what he took from me. My life has, and will go on.
(for full version of the original article, follow the link)
By Linda Castoria
Italicized Comments are by Katt
PHASE ONE - ACUTE OR IMPACT STAGE
This stage is characterized by a rise in tension in response to stress. There is an increase in the level of tension and an increase in the feelings of being upset. At this point, the problem may be: (a) solved; (b) redefined in order to achieve needed satisfaction; or (c) avoided through needed resignation and relinquishment of goals.
If the rape crisis is not solved, major disorganization may ensue. The rape victim may have general feelings of helplessness, state of confusion and inability to think clearly about how to evaluate reality.
This first phase has been described as an acute reaction taking the form of shock, disbelief and dismay. This may begin when victims first realizes they must deal with the consequences of the rape, pressing charges, friends' attitudes, etc.
In the first moments, hours and days immediately following the rape, the acute reaction may be in the form of shock, disbelief and dismay. A victim may be agitated, incoherent or in a highly volatile state. They may appear very stable and in control only to break down suddenly.
A few days after the assault, I had to move out of my dorm room. I was staying at my sisters for a day while she went to her bf's graduation. I don't remember much about before I went to her apartment, but I think I was numb.
I spent the whole day crying. I felt like my life was falling apart. I was terrified of being alone. It hurt so bad, and I had no idea why. I thought I was going crazy. And I didn't know why.
How soon and to whom a victim tells about the rape provides an early clue about their own feelings of what happened to them and their role in it. This is why talking to someone is so important -- so they can help clarify feelings, help make decisions on reporting the rape and giving options for medical and legal assistance. There is usually a marked decrease in the victim's anxiety after discussing the incident with someone.
I had no idea I had been sexually assaulted. So I doubt I resolved this stage "normally"
If a victim seeks support, this phase usually resolves within a few weeks. They must be given informative support as well as support counseling to turn their non-specific anxiety into helping them concentrate on resolving problems created by the rape (i.e., whether or not to report, whether or not to press charges, whether or not to tell family or friends).
This is why a rape crisis center plays such an important role during Phase One. A victim can be helped to consider alternative courses of action and their possible outcomes. A rape crisis center can help them notify family and accompany them to the police and the hospital emergency room for medical consultation and an exam. A victim is encouraged to consider how they will feel in a few weeks or months. Similar reactions of other survivors are discussed with them, and they are encouraged to seek counseling. Their fears, anger and depression are discussed.
woulda been nice. At least I could have known what was happening, instead of losing two years to insanity. Wouldn't have been much point to the hospital. Brian sexually assaulted me, but it wasn't rape. No physical evidence, no legal recourse.
Their feelings are validated as being a normal reaction for them.
This is what I needed more than anything. I still have doubts about my "right" to have all these reactions, I mean after all it wasn't full on rape. Someone saying "It's ok to hurt. It's ok to be traumatized" would have meant the world.
PHASE TWO - REPRESSION OR OUTWARD ADJUSTMENT STAGE
In this stage a victim goes about a lot of activity in an attempt discharge the inner tension or anxiety they may be feeling without any additional work on working through their true feelings. They return to normal activity and subdue their anger and resentment and rationalize what has happened, while gaining little insight into their own, true feelings about the rape.
While at home for Xmas immeadetly after the assault, I would stay on AOL till 4am talking to people. All men. I don't know what I was seeking. I just know being alone, doing nothing, was the most terrifying thing to me. I think this is when my fear of "never having a man" went over the top.
When I got back to school, I hardly slept, was up till all hours, not studying, but hanging out, talking on AIM, dating, making out with guys, anything to be active.
It is during this stage that there is heavy denial and suppression. They deny the rape had a personal impact on them,
I told myself it wasn't an assault. That I had failed, by not stopping Brian. And every time there after, when I couldn't enforce the barriers Brian had ripped through, I hated myself for failing yet again and they concentrates on protecting the feelings of those close to them and their concern.
It is important that they address their feelings about the rapist during this stage, but they usually subdue their feelings and go about their daily routine of life.
I didn't allow myself anger at Brian. I turned it all on myself.
PHASE THREE - POST-TRAUMATIC OR RESOLUTION STAGE
This phase begins when a victim develops an inner sense of depression and feels the need to talk about their feelings and the situation. Concerns, which have been dealt with superficially or denied successfully, reappear for more comprehensive review. The depression that sets in during this stage is psychologically normal in most cases.
I was actually on a date, another unhealthy relationship, when it just hit me. I realized I had been assaulted. I realized Brian had been wrong. I went home and wept, and tried to tell my parents. I think now that they were shocked. But then, I was hurt that they didn't seem to respond
In order to resolve feelings, a victim is encouraged to accept the rape and realize the impact it has had on their feelings and life.
This happened around 2 or 3 years later, maybe 4, After I married J. I had to go to counseling, because my life was falling apart. That's when M entered the picture, and when I got on anti-depressants. It's when life re-started for me.
The "If only I hadn't" statements emerge. They must allow their anger at the rapist to emerge instead of shying away from their feelings of anger and disgust.
I just started dealing with this issue this year. 'If I only hadn't been so naive. If I only hadn't gone that night. If I only hadn't stayed so late.'
What is so hard to realize is that I couldn't have changed who I was. It wasn't my responsibility. It was Brian's responsiblity to respect me. It was his responsibility to my needs above his. He chose not to.
It wasn't my fault. It was his
This phase may begin with a specific incident such as the case may going to trial soon, or if they realize they are unable to daily subdue fears and feelings as in Phase Two. They may find themselves thinking about the rape after seeing a person of the same race as the rapist, reading a magazine article or seeing a television show about rape or any unexplained situation.
Marriage made my hell impossible to ignore any longer.
During this phase, a victim usually re-contacts their rape crisis center counselor to help them identify their surfacing fears and feelings or help to prepare them for trial.
I've been in counseling most of my married life. I tried to quit once, with disasterous results. I'm healing, but it seems so slow.
But I will survive. I will not remain Brian's victim. I will reclaim what he took from me. My life has, and will go on.
posted by Katt @ 5:34 PM
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