Sexual assault can have a significant impact on the psychological, emotional, and physical well-being of a person. Many emotions may feel challenging and overwhelming to feel that you can carry out your day-to-day activities such as work or socialising with others.
The key message when dealing with sexual assault it is not OK, you’re not to blame and feeling shame is a very normal emotion to feel. No matter how long ago the abuse took place, negative emotions or flashbacks can reoccur which can impact how you feel at any point in time. This can, in some cases, lead to other mental health outcomes such as anxiety or post traumatic stress.
If you’ve been a victim of Sexual abuse or assault, It’s best to seek immediate support.
- Call 000/go to your nearest Emergency Department.
- Report the incident to the Police.
- Phone the Sexual Assault Helpline on 1800 010 120 (7.30 am to 11.30 pm, 7 days a week.)
Sexual abuse is not always easy to talk about, you may fear being judged or talking about it is too traumatic. Talking to an Unboxed Pride therapist may be a challenging experience at first, but our team are qualified, compassionate professionals who are invested in your healing journey, always offering compassion without any judgement.
With the right support, dealing with the physical, mental, and social impacts of sexual assault can set you on a path of healing and help process the negative emotions that can occur.
If you have been sexually assaulted you may be experiencing some of the following mental health and physical symptoms:
- Increased anxiety/panic attacks.
- Sleep disruption.
- Appetite changes
- Feeling sad or depressed.
- Self-isolation and dissociation.
- Post Traumatic Stress
- Nightmares and flashbacks
- Increased use of alcohol and other drugs.