Abuse of any kind destroys a person's sense of worth or self-esteem. It is characterized by shock, disbelief, fear, anger, and phobic reactions to the place where the sexual assault occurred. Flashbacks, an immediate sense of reliving the sexual assault, and sleep disturbances are also reported. This stage is considered temporary. The survivor feels things are back to normal and attempts to regain some sense of control.
Survivors block out the impact of the sexual assault.
This stage is the time when healing occurs. It can be a difficult time, characterized by many of the same feelings that occurred initially, but with more likelihood of resolving them. Survivors may become depressed, have dramatic mood-swings, feel alienated from others, or withdraw into themselves. It is at this point that survivors often seek psychotherapy. Common Feelings Fear is a universal response to sexual assault.