Understanding PTSD After Sexual Assault
I want to start out by saying that sexual assault/trauma is an incredibly difficult subject to talk about. There are so many overwhelming emotions survivors and their families may feel in the aftermath of an assault. There is no “right” way to feel, and every emotion is valid. However, I often hear survivors describe feelings of numbness, fear, and shame. Meanwhile, their families and support networks may experience anger, fear, and a sense of violation, all while struggling to understand how best to offer support and navigate available resources.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, such as sexual assault. The trauma causes lasting changes in the brain and can lead to overwhelming emotional and physical reactions, including anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional numbness. While not every sexual assault survivor will develop PTSD, a significant number of people do. I aim to provide language for survivors' experiences amidst the heaviness they may be feeling in hopes that they feel less alone. I also hope to give their support networks a deeper sense of empathy and understanding.
Common Emotional Experiences Following a Sexual Assault
Emotional Numbing & Disconnection:
Sexual assault is a violation of safety, trust, and personal autonomy. Survivors experience an attack directly on their bodies, the very place where we should feel a sense of safety and control. This level of violation can be difficult to fully comprehend and can often lead to feelings of emotional numbness and detachment. Numbness is an uncomfortable emotion- it makes people feel frozen, stuck on autopilot, unable to work through their thoughts and feelings. I often remind survivors that numbness is a protective and normal response to trauma. When the emotional pain becomes too overwhelming to face all at once, the mind blocks out some of it to help us cope. It’s important for survivors and their support networks to recognize and allow space for this numbness. Survivors should not be pressured to quickly label or articulate their emotions in the aftermath of an assault. Patience and understanding from loved ones are essential in these early stages.
Shame & Self-Blame:
Many survivors of sexual assault grapple with guilt, shame, and self-blame following an assault. From my experience working with survivors, they often revisit the details of their assault, searching for moments where they feel they might have “asked for it” or somehow invited the attack. Unfortunately, these feelings can be intensified when their support networks respond with anger, ask “why did/didn’t you” questions, or when larger systems blame them directly. The shame and guilt can become overwhelming, often manifesting not only emotionally but physically–some survivors experience a deep sense of feeling "dirty" or tainted, leading to a compulsive urge to shower or cleanse themselves.
It's crucial to remind survivors that they are never at fault for the assault– no action, no choice, and no behavior invites or justifies an attack. Support networks can help by offering a safe, nonjudgmental space, avoiding pressure for specific details, and refraining from questions that might cause survivors to relive the trauma or doubt their own choices. Instead, validating their emotions and reinforcing that the blame belongs solely to the perpetrator is key in helping survivors move toward healing.
Hypervigilance & Anxiety:
A common symptom of PTSD following a sexual assault is hypervigilance. Hypervigilance is a state of heightened alertness and awareness for potential threats or dangers. Much like numbness, hypervigilance is a protective response. The traumatized brain works overtime scanning every new room and environment a survivor enters, constantly searching for signs of danger. For sexual assault survivors, this can show up as an exaggerated startle response, flinching, or pulling away from physical touch. It can also include fear and avoidance of people or places that remind them of the assault. Trauma changes the way we see the world, ourselves, and others. After an assault, it’s common to develop a strong fear that others will hurt you and that the world is unsafe. For many survivors, everyday tasks and joys—grocery shopping, walking alone at night, even being in their own home—can feel stressful and overwhelming. Instead of being able to relax, socialize, or focus on what needs to be done, their hypervigilance keeps them scanning for danger from others, anticipating harm. This sense of persistent danger is exhausting, and many survivors struggle with self-criticism, wondering why they can’t “just relax” or “move on.” It’s important to recognize that your brain is working hard to protect you. Healing doesn’t mean forcing yourself back into normal routines all at once–it means moving at a pace that feels right for you. Support networks can help by offering validation, helping survivors identify what feels safe, and avoiding pressure to “get back out there” before they’re ready.
Flashbacks & Triggers:
Flashbacks and triggers are another common symptom of PTSD after sexual assault. The brain can unconsciously associate certain sights, sounds, smells, or even physical sensations with the trauma. This can make flashbacks feel confusing and disorienting, as the survivor may not always understand why a specific memory or feeling is triggered. A flashback is not just a memory; it's an overwhelming re-experiencing of the trauma, as if it's happening all over again. The body may react as if the danger is still present, even though it is not.
Triggers can come from unexpected places–certain places, sounds, or even smells may evoke vivid and overwhelming memories of the assault. These triggers can bring on intense emotional responses, and survivors may feel out of control when they happen. It's important to remember that experiencing flashbacks or being triggered does not mean the survivor is weak. It's a sign that the brain is struggling to make sense of the trauma and that it is still being processed. When facing an active trigger or flashback, it can feel impossible to have rational conversations or to be “talked out” of what is being felt. Supporting survivors in these moments may look like guiding them in grounding skills such as guiding them to put their face in cold water, grip to an ice cube, or noticing five things they can see, hear, feel, smell, and touch.
Nightmares & Sleep Issues:
Nightmares are another common symptom for many survivors. These nightmares may recreate the assault, making sleep feel unsafe. Even if the dream isn’t a direct re-enactment of the trauma, the fear and helplessness can still be overwhelming. The fear of nightmares can even keep someone awake, exhausted and on edge, in a cycle of heightened anxiety and sleep deprivation. Recognizing that these sleep disturbances are part of the PTSD experience, and not a reflection of personal weakness, is crucial to healing.
There is Hope
PTSD does not mean you are broken. It is a response to an unbearable experience, but healing is more than possible. With time, support, and the right tools, there can be a future where it feels easier to fall asleep at night, enjoy time with friends, and be in public spaces while feeling calm and grounded in your body. It's possible to release the overwhelming shame and guilt, and to develop compassion for yourself and the pain you've experienced. You don’t have to navigate this alone. Therapy provides a space to process, reduce symptoms, and begin reclaiming the safety and peace that belongs to you. Approaches like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) are effective tools for addressing trauma and PTSD, offering a path toward healing and resilience.
If this resonates with you, reach out to Brittany Fuller.