Sexual Trauma

She is a daughter, a wife, a mother and a soldier.

After returning from Iraq, her life is just not the same. She no longer spends time with her friends to catch up on the latest gossip. She argues with her husband and uses profanity in front of her young son. She jumps at the slightest physical touch. Everyone she knows sees the changes she has undergone, but they do not understand what she has gone through.

Her story is untold because she doesn’t want anyone to find out about it. She was raped while serving in the military and no one else knows it.

Counselors say these composite symptoms are typical for women veterans who have been sexually assaulted. Last year 1,700 cases of alleged sexual assault involving members of the Armed Forces were reported, according to a Department of Defense study released in May 2005. That’s an 89 percent increase from 2002 when 901 alleged cases of sexual assault were reported.

These rising numbers make military sexual trauma an issue the government is seeking to control through the development of a sexual assault prevention and response policy.

Sexual trauma among female soldiers is a serious issue that unfortunately in many cases goes untreated. The trauma can harm their mental and physical health and require extensive services when they return home.

The Academies face Scandals

Sexual assault and sexual harassment became known as widespread problems in the armed forces after the early 1990s when cases were reported in the Air Force Academy.

The U.S. General Accounting Office released a report in 1994 that found cases of reported sexual harassment to be higher than reports of alleged sexual assault in the Air Force, Naval and Military academies.

The report also showed female victims were more likely than men to expect negative consequences from reporting the incidents. Since then other studies have been conducted to determine the extent of sexual assault in the armed forces.

Sexual Revictimization found in Navy Recruits

In 1999 the Journal of Traumatic Stress released the results of surveys taken by U.S. Navy female recruits that showed a correlation between childhood sexual abuse and adult revictimization.

In 1994 a survey was given to 1,887 participants in January and was completed in April. The results showed that women who experienced childhood sexual assault were 5.12 times more likely to experience rape than women with no history of childhood sexual assault.

The results of this study acknowledged sexual assault in the armed forces as an issue that needed greater attention.

Silent Victims

Many victims of military sexual trauma do not report the incident or seek treatment for reasons that vary with each person.

While women have served in the military since the early 20th century, they are still not allowed in direct combat.Therefore women who do not go to VA hospitals or veteran centers for treatment may think they do not qualify as veterans for health care, says Patricia Hagerbaumer, the women veterans coordinator and sexual trauma specialist at the Evanston, Ill., Veteran Center.

Other women fear the repercussions of reporting sexual assault. These victims are afraid of how they will be treated by others if they report it. In some cases, the women opt to keep quiet and deal with the trauma of their experiences on their own, Hagerbaumer says.

Hagerbaumer also says some female victims with families do not report the assault because they want to keep a stable environment for their children.

Other women, however, do not seek help because “there is an element of shame in sexual trauma,” Hagerbaumer says. They do not report the incident and feel uncomfortable discussing it with anyone.

“Rape destroys trust,” Hagerbaumer says. "It can take years for a victim to open up about her experience."

While some women seek help after they are discharged, Hagerbaumer says others go for treatment years after the experience when they realize they can no longer deal with it on their own.

The Impact on Victims

Those who experience sexual trauma after serving in the armed forces may show signs of hypervigilance, irritability, sleep problems and social avoidance, Hagerbaumer says.

Hypervigilance is a common symptom found in most soldiers after they return from combat. It is also a symptom of sexual victims. People who experience it cannot relax because they are always expecting something to happen. Hypervigilance causes these people to be startled by the slightest physical touch.

Victims also become irritable and have no patience with others. Some may even lose their friends. They have difficulty retaining jobs and find it hard to maintain a normal life, Hagerbaumer says.

After the sexual assault, victims may be unable to sleep or may experience nightmares.

Isolation is perhaps the most important symptom that victims experience because after the sexual encounter many are unable to have close relationships, Hagerbaumer says. They may develop depression and lose trust and become fearful of others.

These symptoms may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. Furthermore, Hagerbaumer says some sexual assault victims may respond in two extreme ways: the woman may either hate sex or become sexually promiscuous.

Jill Feldman, 54, the women veterans program manager at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, says women also experience gynecological problems. Many women develop yeast or urinary infections from not urinating during bathroom breaks.

Services Available

A National Center for PTSD Fact Sheet

By Sue Orsillo, Ph.D.

Although anyone - men, women, and children - can be assaulted, this fact sheet will focus on adult female victims of sexual assault.

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is defined as any sort of sexual activity between two or more people in which one of the people is involved against his or her will.

The sexual activity involved in an assault can include many different experiences. Women can be the victims of unwanted touching, grabbing, oral sex, anal sex, sexual penetration with an object, and/or sexual intercourse.

There are a lot of ways that women can be involved in sexual activity against their will. The force used by the aggressor can be either physical or non-physical. Some women are forced or pressured into having sex with someone who has some form of authority over them (e.g., doctor, teacher, boss). Women can be bribed or manipulated into sexual activity against their will. Others may be unable to give their consent because they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In some cases, the sexual aggressor threatens to hurt the woman or people that she cares about. Finally, some assaults include physical force or violence.

Who commits sexual assaults?

Often, when we think about who commits sexual assault or rape, we imagine the aggressor is a stranger to the victim. Contrary to popular belief, sexual assault does not typically occur between strangers. The National Crime Victimization Survey, conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, found that 76% of sexually assaulted women were attacked by a current or former husband, cohabitating partner, friend, or date. Strangers committed only 18% of the assaults that were reported in this survey.

How often do sexual assaults happen?

Estimating rates of sexual violence against women is a difficult task. Many factors stop women from reporting these crimes to police and to interviewers collecting statistics on the rate of crime in our country. Women may not want to report that they were assaulted because it is such a personal experience, because they blame themselves, because they are afraid of how others may react, and because they do not think it is useful to make such a report. However, there are statistics that demonstrate the magnitude of this problem in our country. For instance, a large-scale study conducted on several college campuses found that 20% of women reported that they had been raped in their lifetime. Another national study found that approximately 13-17% of women living in the U.S. have been the victims of completed rape, and an additional 14% of women were the victims of another form of sexual assault. The National Crime Victimization Survey estimated that 500,000 sexual assaults occurred in the U.S. from 1992 to 1993. Of those assaults, about one third were completed rapes and an additional 28% were attempted rapes.

What happens to women after they are sexually assaulted?

After a sexual assault, women can experience a wide range of reactions. It is extremely important to note that there is no one pattern of response. Some women respond immediately, others may have delayed reactions. Some women are affected by the assault for a long time whereas others appear to recover rather quickly.

In the early stages, many women report feeling shock, confusion, anxiety, and/or numbness. Sometimes women will experience feelings of denial. In other words, they may not fully acknowledge what has happened to them or they may downplay the intensity of the experience. This reaction may be more common among women who are assaulted by someone they know.

What are some early reactions to sexual assault?

In the first few days and weeks following the assault, it is very normal for a woman to experience intense and sometimes unpredictable emotions. She may have repeated strong memories of the event that are difficult to ignore, and nightmares are not uncommon. Women also report having difficulty concentrating and sleeping, and they may feel jumpy or on edge. While these initial reactions are normal and expected, some women may experience severe, highly disruptive symptoms that make it incredibly difficult to function in the first month following the assault. When these problems disrupt the woman's daily life, and prevent her from seeking assistance or telling friends and family members, the woman may have Acute Stress Disorder (ASD). Symptoms of ASD include:

What are some other reactions that women have following a sexual assault?

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common reaction following sexual assault. Symptoms of MDD can include a depressed mood, an inability to enjoy things, difficulty sleeping, changes in patterns of sleeping and eating, problems in concentration and decision-making, feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and decreased self-esteem. Research suggests that almost 1/3 of all rape victims have at least one period of MDD during their lives. And for many of these women, the depression can last for a long period of time. Thoughts about suicide are also common. Studies estimate that 1/3 of women who are raped contemplate suicide, and 17% of rape victims actually attempt suicide.

Many victims of sexual assault report struggling with anger after the assault. Although this is a natural reaction to such a violating event, there is some research that suggests that prolonged, intense anger can interfere with the recovery process and further disrupt a woman's life.

Shame and guilt are common reactions to sexual assault. Some women blame themselves for what has happened or feel shameful about being an assault victim. This reaction can be even stronger among women who are assaulted by someone that they know, or who do not receive support from their friends, family, or authorities, following the incident. Shame and guilt can also get in the way of a woman's recovery by preventing her from telling others about what happened and getting assistance.

Social problems can sometimes arise following a sexual assault. A woman can experience problems in her marital relationship or in her friendships. Sometimes an assault survivor will be too anxious or depressed to want to participate in social activities. Many women report difficulty trusting others after the assault, so it can be difficult to develop new relationships. Performance at work and school can also be affected.

Sexual problems can be among the most long-standing problems experienced by women who are the victims of sexual assault. Women can be afraid of and try to avoid any sexual activity; they may experience an overall decrease in sexual interest and desire.

Alcohol and drug use can sometimes become problematic for women who are the victims of assault. A large-scale study found that compared to non-victims, rape survivors were 3.4 times more likely to use marijuana, 6 times more likely to use cocaine, and 10 times more likely to use other major drugs. Often, women will report that they use these substances to control other symptoms related to their assault.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) involves a pattern of symptoms that some individuals develop after experiencing a traumatic event such as sexual assault. Symptoms of PTSD include repeated thoughts of the assault; memories and nightmares; avoidance of thoughts, feelings, and situations related to the assault; and increased arousal (e.g., difficulty sleeping and concentrating, jumpiness, irritability). One study that examined PTSD symptoms among women who were raped found that 94% of women experienced these symptoms during the two weeks immediately following the rape. Nine months later, about 30% of the women were still reporting this pattern of symptoms. The National Women's Study reported that almost 1/3 of all rape victims develop PTSD sometime during their lives and 11% of rape victims currently suffer from the disorder.

What should I do if I have been sexually assaulted? Where can I go for help?

If you were sexually assaulted and are experiencing symptoms that are distressing to you, or symptoms that are interfering with your ability to live a fulfilling and productive life, we urge you to talk to a mental-health professional. Depending on the nature of the problems that you are having, a number of therapeutic techniques may be extremely helpful to you.

The treatment you receive will depend on the symptoms you are experiencing and will be tailored to your needs. Some therapies involve talking about and making sense of the assault in order to reduce the memories and pain associated with the assault. Attending therapy may also involve learning skills to cope with the symptoms associated with the assault. Finally, therapy can help survivors restore meaning to their lives.

Unfortunately, sexual assault is fairly prevalent in our society today. Survivors of sexual assault can experience a wide variety of symptoms, but they do not have to suffer in silence. Mental-health professionals can offer a number of effective treatments tailored to the individual woman's needs. We urge you to seek help today.

Links

Facts About Anxiety Disorders

Most people experience feelings of anxiety before an important event such as a big exam, business presentation, or first date. Anxiety disorders, however, are illnesses that fill people's lives with overwhelming anxiety and fear that are chronic, unremitting, and can grow progressively worse. Tormented by panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, flashbacks of traumatic events, nightmares, or countless frightening physical symptoms, some people with anxiety disorders even become housebound. Fortunately, through research supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), there are effective treatments that can help.

How Common Are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders, as a group, are the most common mental illness in America. More than 19 million American adults are affected by these debilitating illnesses each year. Children and adolescents can also develop anxiety disorders.

What Are the Different Kinds of Anxiety Disorders?

Panic Disorder—Repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal distress, feelings of unreality, and fear of dying.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder—Repeated, unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors that seem impossible to stop or control.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder—Persistent symptoms that occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as rape or other criminal assault, war, child abuse, natural or human-caused disasters, or crashes. Nightmares, flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression, and feeling angry, irritable or distracted and being easily startled are common. Family members of victims can also develop this disorder.
Phobias—Two major types of phobias are social phobia and specific phobia. People with social phobia have an overwhelming and disabling fear of scrutiny, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations, which leads to avoidance of many potentially pleasurable and meaningful activities. People with specific phobia experience extreme, disabling, and irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger; the fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can cause people to limit their lives unnecessarily.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder—Constant, exaggerated worrisome thoughts and tension about everyday routine life events and activities, lasting at least six months. Almost always anticipating the worst even though there is little reason to expect it; accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea.

What Are Effective Treatments for Anxiety Disorders?

Treatments have been largely developed through research conducted by NIMH and other research institutions. They help many people with anxiety disorders and often combine medication and specific types of psychotherapy.

A number of medications that were originally approved for treating depression have been found to be effective for anxiety disorders as well. Some of the newest of these antidepressants are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Other antianxiety medications include groups of drugs called benzodiazepines and beta-blockers. If one medication is not effective, others can be tried. New medications are currently under development to treat anxiety symptoms.

Two clinically-proven effective forms of psychotherapy used to treat anxiety disorders are behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy focuses on changing specific actions and uses several techniques to stop unwanted behaviors. In addition to the behavioral therapy techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients to understand and change their thinking patterns so they can react differently to the situations that cause them anxiety.

Do Anxiety Disorders Co-Exist with Other Physical or Mental Disorders?

It is common for an anxiety disorder to accompany depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, or another anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can also co-exist with illnesses such as cancer or heart disease. In such instances, the accompanying disorders will also need to be treated. Before beginning any treatment, however, it is important to have a thorough medical examination to rule out other possible causes of symptoms.

For more information about anxiety disorders, contact: NIMH Web site:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

The following Links are provided by "Women and Abuse". Please visit their site listed below, it could save your life.