Resource Treatment Center in Indianapolis, IN, is the trusted provider of treatment for trauma from rape for youth who are suffering from emotional, behavioral, developmental, and psychiatric concerns.
Learn More About Treatment for Trauama from Rape
Learn more about treatment for trauma from rape at Resource Residential Treatment Facility in Indianapolis, IN
The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines rape as unconsented sexual assault in which an individual’s vagina or anus is penetrated by an object, body part, or sexual organ belonging to another person. A serious crime that can happen to anyone, rape can cause a great deal of emotional and physical harm that can render several short and long-term effects for an individual. Perpetrators of rape can be total strangers, a family member, or an acquaintance. In fact, in many cases of rape, the offender is often someone that the victim knows, a factor that can cause even more psychological damage for a victim.
In the event that this kind of trauma happens, it is important that an individual seeks medical attention and mental healthcare in order to minimize the lasting effects that can occur. Even though the assault is not their fault, victims of rape frequently blame themselves, feel shameful, and develop a number of fears following the rape. Children and adolescents who are victims of this trauma experience similar effects as adult victims. However, because children and adolescents are emotionally under-developed, they may not have the coping skills to effectively process trauma or have the wherewithal to report that an assault has occurred. Furthermore, and especially in cases where children or adolescents are assaulted by someone they know, there is the possibility of the child or adolescent being told not to share information regarding the assault. For caregivers and other people in a child or adolescent’s life, it is imperative that the signs and symptoms of rape trauma are not ignored. Professional help is available and can greatly improve the lives of those who have been victims of this heinous crime.
Statistics
Statistics about trauma from rape
It has been estimated that 1 out of every 6 women in the United States has been a victim of attempted or completed rape. Additionally, and according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), 1 in 33 men are also victims of rape. However, the accuracy of statistics regarding reports of rape by men is debatable as many assaults of this nature go unreported.
Further studies have shown that children and adolescents are also victims of rape. With 44% of rape victims under the age of 18, girls are reported as being four times more likely to be victims of sexual assault, attempted and completed rape when compared to the population at large. Finally, reports have also found that 15% of children under the age of 12 have been victims of this violating crime.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of trauma from rape
There are a number of variables that can determine the obviousness of signs and symptoms of rape trauma for a child or adolescent. Some children and adolescents are not as explicit in communicating that they have been sexually assaulted; they act out in other ways. Depending on the level of support surrounding the child or adolescent, how safe the individual feels, and the victim’s age, the following signs and symptoms of rape trauma could be present:
Behavioral symptoms:
- Frequent bathing
- Avoiding certain people, places, things, or types of experiences
- Social isolation
- Decline in school performance
- Exacerbated startle response
- Abusing drugs and/or alcohol
- Crying due to emotional sensitivity
- Explicitly avoiding being alone
- Increased conflict with others
- Constant defiance of rules
- Self-harming behaviors
- Suicidal attempts
Physical symptoms:
- Sleep disturbances
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Appetite changes
- Weight loss or gain
- Presence of infections, viruses, or sexually transmitted diseases
- Lacerations to the vagina or rectum
- Pregnancy
- Problems with reproductive organs
- Muscle tension
- Soreness
- Headaches or migraines
- Presence of cuts, burns, or other injuries as a result of self-harm
Psychosocial symptoms:
- Feelings of self-blame
- Worthless feelings
- Anger
- Agitation
- Experiencing flashbacks related to the trauma
- Feeling dirty and/or degraded
- Pervasive feelings of fear or doom
- Feeling embarrassed or ashamed
- Depressed mood
- Elevated levels of anxiety
- Emotional numbness
- Confusion
- Helpless feelings
- Suicidal ideation
Effects
Effects of trauma from rape
In addition to the physiological ramifications that come with being the victim of rape, there are a number of other detrimental effects that ensue following this kind of sexual assault. It is crucial that a child or adolescent who has been raped receive care and treatment that works to reduce the following potential effects of being raped:
- Unstable emotions
- Angry outbursts
- Exposure to infectious diseases / viruses / sexually transmitted diseases
- Disruptions in school performance
- Academic failure / expulsion / dropping out of school
- Social withdrawal or isolation
- Disciplinary action at school as a result of acting out
- Engaging in risky and/or promiscuous behaviors
- Lying
- Emotional emptiness or numbness
- Feeling as though no one can relate to inner turmoil
- Increased vulnerability for further victimization
- Disordered eating
- Development of mental health conditions
- Inability to form and/or maintain healthy relationships with others
- Low empathy
- Victimizing others
- Changes in personality
- Engaging in criminal activity
- Depersonalization
- Derealization
- Interaction with law enforcement / incarceration
- Substance use or abuse
- Suicidal ideation
- Suicide attempts
Why Consider Treatment
Why consider treatment for trauma from rape at Resource Residential Treatment Facility in Indianapolis, IN
The emotional distress that occurs following a rape can cause a great deal of impairment and disruption in a person’s normal functioning. Children and adolescents who have suffered from this kind of trauma often require mental health treatment in order to cope with and overcome the adverse effects that result. Those who have experienced sexual assault of this nature may shy away from such treatment due to feelings of shame, fear, or worry that can be overwhelming. These individuals often feel that not talking about their assault is easier than processing it. Attempting to dismiss the pain associated with rape can actually do more harm than good for a person. Depression, anxiety, substance use, and other mental health conditions have the possibility of developing when a person chooses to remain silent about this kind of trauma. For children and adolescents, the long-term effects can be damaging, carry over into adulthood, and cause a number of hindrances.
One effective treatment option that has proven effective in helping children and adolescents recover from rape trauma is residential treatment. Within this kind of treatment, individuals engage in programming that provides support, teaches effective coping skills, and aids in processing painful feelings. Individual, group, and family therapies are utilized as a means of helping children and adolescents work towards recovery. Staff in these settings are sensitive to this kind of trauma and diligently work to ensure that treatment is administered in the most caring, compassionate, and empathic way possible. The primary goal with this sort of treatment is to help victims of rape regain control over their lives and resume functioning with a renewed sense of inner strength.
