If you are in need of immediate assistance, call 911 or GW Emergency Services.
If you are in need of immediate assistance, call 911 or GW Emergency Services.
If you are not in immediate danger, call the Title IX Office during normal business hours or the Sexual Assault Response & Consultation (SARC) hotline for assistance after hours.
If you would like to report an incident of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, or stalking.
If you’ve experienced a traumatic incident, you may react in a variety of ways. Reactions are based on individual coping styles, personality, and external factors such as religion or culture.
Some people may have immediate emotional reactions, and some may appear more composed. Some may immediately disclose to a friend, family member, or authority figure, and some may wait a considerable amount of time before telling anyone. Some may seek out and take advantage of support resources, and others may find this unappealing. It’s important to know that those impacted are doing what they can in order to regain stability and take care of themselves, even if that looks very different from the way others may believe they would react.
It’s definitely okay to wait to reach out until you are ready. We encourage you to talk to someone you trust as soon as you can, though, to get support and assistance.
Trauma and Traumatic Response
Sexual assault and dating or domestic violence are examples of events that can be traumatic.
A traumatic event is one that threatens the life, health, or safety of the person experiencing or witnessing it. Traumatic events are so powerful because they disrupt our sense of the way the world is supposed to work--they cut against our assumptions of safety and balance.
Events can be traumatic when they are experienced directly, such as a car accident, a sexual assault, or the unexpected death of a loved one. They can also be indirect, such as witnessing a terrible accident, watching a natural or manmade disaster unfold, or being close to someone who experiences an assault. Every person will be affected differently by violence, tragedy, or accidents--we all have a different threshold for what is a traumatic event.
“Post Traumatic Stress” refers to a pattern of trauma response symptoms that do not resolve after an average period of time. Studies from the National Center for PTSD (US Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs) show that approximately one third of sexual assault and rape survivors experience Post Traumatic Stress during their lifetimes.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and The Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) have extensive information about trauma and traumatic response.
Effects of Sexual Assault and Relationship Abuse
In the first few days and weeks following the assault, it is normal to experience intense and sometimes unpredictable emotions. You may also experience:
Repeated strong memories or nightmares about the event that are difficult to ignore
Difficulty sleeping and feeling constantly “on edge”
Individuals respond differently as time progresses and there is not a distinct timeline for coping or recovery. If you are reacting in a way that does not allow you to live your daily life, you may be experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
Regardless of how you are feeling, it’s important to talk to someone and determine the support that you need.
Health effects related to sexual assault and abuse will vary. The most common emotional and physical effects include:
Headaches, nausea and GI distress, and body aches
Hypersensitivity to environment
Changes in sleep and eating habits
Increase in risky behaviors, such as alcohol, drug use, or self injury
Change in normal social activity and daily routine
Difficulty around intimate and sexual relationships
Intensified emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, embarrassment, and shame
Intrusive thoughts, such as flashbacks or nightmares
Mood swings
Inability to feel focused or balanced
Coping with Sexual Assault and Dating or Domestic Violence
Suggestions for Coping with Sexual Assault or Dating or Domestic Violence