Freshman Year: sHE beLIEveD & sHE's brOKen

Sexual Assault Information (it's long, but important)

Sexual Assault

Now this might be a bit long, but believe me the information is valuable. I thought I was going crazy or insane for the longest time because I didn’t understand why I was acting the way I was. Then I did research and I felt a lot better.

I am going to stick to what I went through but will give a link that includes all things related.

Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault

- “When drugs or alcohol are used to compromise an individual’s ability to consent to sexual activity. In addition, drugs and alcohol are often used in order to minimize the resistance and memory of he victim of a sexual assault.”

        

Diminished Capacity- exists when an individual does not have the capacity to consent. Reasons for this inability to consent include, but are not limited to: sleeping, drugged, passed out, unconscious, mentally incapacitated etc.

        

        

It is important to understand diminished capacity because oftentimes victims of sexual assault in these situations blame themselves because they drank, did drugs, etc. It is essential to emphasize that it is not his or her fault, that the aggressor is the one who took advantage of his or her diminished capacity.

Now I understand this. I went through this. Hell, I still feel blame to this day sometimes. So please, if someone tells you they’ve been assaulted do not tell them it’s their fault. Trust me the self-blame is a big hurdle to get over, and an extremely important one to get over too.

http://www.rainn.org/get-information/types-of-sexual-assault/drug-facilitated-assault

      

Effects of Sexual Assault

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)

–

after a traumatic event, it is likely to have feelings of anxiety, stress, or fear, making it difficult to adjust or cope for some time afterwards. In particular, survivors of sexual violence may experience severe feelings of anxiety, stress, or fear, known as PTSD. While it is natural to have some of these symptoms after a traumatic event, if they last for more than a few weeks and become an ongoing problem, it might be PTSD. If left untreated, symptoms can grow worse and last for months or even years.

        

Symptoms

·

     

Re- Experiencing

o

  

This is a repeated reliving of the event, and interferes with daily activity. This category includes flashbacks, frightening thoughts, recurrent memories or dreams, and physical reactions to situations that remind you of the event.

·

     

Avoidance

o