Rape Support Group
If you or someone you know has been the victim of rape, this is the place to find support and get advice. If you want, discuss your experience, share your feelings, and meet others going through a similar situation.
Rape Trauma Syndrome is a common reaction to a rape or sexual assault. It is the human reaction to an unnatural or extreme event.
There are three phases to Rape Trauma Syndrome
1. Acute Phase
This phase occurs immediately after the assault and usually lasts a few days to several weeks. In this phase individuals can have many reactions but they typically fall into three categories of reactions:
1. Expressed- This is when the survivor is openly emotional. He or she may appear agitated or hysterical, he or she may suffer from crying spells or anxiety attacks.
2. Controlled- This is when the survivor appears to be without emotion and acts as if "nothing happened" and "everything is fine." This appearance of calm may be shock.
3. Shocked Disbelief- This is when the survivor reacts with a strong sense of disorientation. He or she may have difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or doing everyday tasks. He or she may also have poor recall of the assault.
2. The Outward Adjustment Phase
During this phase the individual resumes what appears to be his or her "normal" life but inside is suffering from considerable turmoil. In this phase there are five primary coping techniques:
1. Minimization- Pretends that "everything is fine" or that "it could have been worse."
2. Dramatization- Cannot stop talking about the assault and it is what dominates their life and identity.
3. Suppression- Refuses to discuss, acts as if it did not happen.
4. Explanation- Analyzes what happened- what the individual did, what the rapist was thinking/feeling.
5. Flight- Tries to escape the pain (moving, changing jobs, changing appearance, changing relationships, etc.).
There are many symptoms or behaviors that appear during this phase including:
* Continuing anxiety
* Severe mood swings
* Sense of helplessness
* Persistent fear or phobia
* Depression
* Rage
* Difficulty sleeping (nightmares, insomnia, etc.)
* Eating difficulties (nausea, vomiting, compulsive eating, etc.)
* Denial
* Withdrawal from friends, family, activities
* Hypervigilance
* Reluctance to leave house and/or go places that remind the individual of the assault
* Sexual problems
* Difficulty concentrating
* Flashbacks
All of these symptoms and behaviors may make the individual more willing to seek counseling and/or to discuss the assault.
3. The Resolution Phase
During this phase the assault is no longer the central focus of the individual's life. While he or she may recognize that he or she will never forget the assault; the pain and negative outcomes lessen over time. Often the individual will begin to accept the rape as part of his or her life and chooses to move on.
This model assumes that individuals will take steps forward and backwards in their healing process and that while there are phases it is not a linear progression and will be different for every person.
RAINN 2008
NOTE: You will notice that most posts on this forum represent the first two stages of RTS, characterized by intense feelings of crisis:
Was I raped?
It happened again last night
Should I leave him?
I feel so guilty!
I hate myself!
Does it ever get better?
I can't sleep!
I'm overwhelmed
I'm suicidal
etc.
Please understand that pointing this out does NOT mean being critical, it means we can better understand where this crisis comes from by studying the stages of RTS. These are normal, natural stages in the evolution of recovery, but it should be emphasized that the passing of time does NOT advance us further in these stages. Progress comes through the work of resolving conflicted thoughts, beliefs, and feelings that emerge in each stage--which also means this resolution simply cannot and will not happen if we engage in efforts to avoid any of those thoughts and feelings through distraction/numbing.
There are three phases to Rape Trauma Syndrome
1. Acute Phase
This phase occurs immediately after the assault and usually lasts a few days to several weeks. In this phase individuals can have many reactions but they typically fall into three categories of reactions:
1. Expressed- This is when the survivor is openly emotional. He or she may appear agitated or hysterical, he or she may suffer from crying spells or anxiety attacks.
2. Controlled- This is when the survivor appears to be without emotion and acts as if "nothing happened" and "everything is fine." This appearance of calm may be shock.
3. Shocked Disbelief- This is when the survivor reacts with a strong sense of disorientation. He or she may have difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or doing everyday tasks. He or she may also have poor recall of the assault.
2. The Outward Adjustment Phase
During this phase the individual resumes what appears to be his or her "normal" life but inside is suffering from considerable turmoil. In this phase there are five primary coping techniques:
1. Minimization- Pretends that "everything is fine" or that "it could have been worse."
2. Dramatization- Cannot stop talking about the assault and it is what dominates their life and identity.
3. Suppression- Refuses to discuss, acts as if it did not happen.
4. Explanation- Analyzes what happened- what the individual did, what the rapist was thinking/feeling.
5. Flight- Tries to escape the pain (moving, changing jobs, changing appearance, changing relationships, etc.).
There are many symptoms or behaviors that appear during this phase including:
* Continuing anxiety
* Severe mood swings
* Sense of helplessness
* Persistent fear or phobia
* Depression
* Rage
* Difficulty sleeping (nightmares, insomnia, etc.)
* Eating difficulties (nausea, vomiting, compulsive eating, etc.)
* Denial
* Withdrawal from friends, family, activities
* Hypervigilance
* Reluctance to leave house and/or go places that remind the individual of the assault
* Sexual problems
* Difficulty concentrating
* Flashbacks
All of these symptoms and behaviors may make the individual more willing to seek counseling and/or to discuss the assault.
3. The Resolution Phase
During this phase the assault is no longer the central focus of the individual's life. While he or she may recognize that he or she will never forget the assault; the pain and negative outcomes lessen over time. Often the individual will begin to accept the rape as part of his or her life and chooses to move on.
This model assumes that individuals will take steps forward and backwards in their healing process and that while there are phases it is not a linear progression and will be different for every person.
RAINN 2008
NOTE: You will notice that most posts on this forum represent the first two stages of RTS, characterized by intense feelings of crisis:
Was I raped?
It happened again last night
Should I leave him?
I feel so guilty!
I hate myself!
Does it ever get better?
I can't sleep!
I'm overwhelmed
I'm suicidal
etc.
Please understand that pointing this out does NOT mean being critical, it means we can better understand where this crisis comes from by studying the stages of RTS. These are normal, natural stages in the evolution of recovery, but it should be emphasized that the passing of time does NOT advance us further in these stages. Progress comes through the work of resolving conflicted thoughts, beliefs, and feelings that emerge in each stage--which also means this resolution simply cannot and will not happen if we engage in efforts to avoid any of those thoughts and feelings through distraction/numbing.
Facing down the demon of rape was the last thing I wanted to attempt. It seemed much more logical and safe...and comfortable to just let it pass without acknowledging 'it' at all. So, I pretended it never happened. In my mind I made no allowances for the strife rape had brought into my life. But, my mind never let go of the terror of having been raped. From the outside, I looked like I was healthy. But my mind had deposited the effects of my rape very deep, it was always there. No amount of pretending would make it go away.
When it reemerged it did so with a vengeance and a timetable all it's own. I had no option of pretense this time and it just about took my life. I have been working very hard now since March of 2006 to recover from the effects of a rape decades before. Only with hard work and determination have I made strides forward. That, and the belief of some very good people.