It’s normal to have strong emotional, psychological and physical reactions after experiencing an event like sexual violence. Some people refer to the impacts of these kinds of events as trauma.

Although each person and situation is unique, here are some of the ways you might feel or react (or respond) after sexual violence:

• Feelings of powerlessness and loss of control: ‘I feel so helpless.’ ‘Will I ever be in control again?’
• Emotional numbness: ‘Why am I so calm?’ ‘Why can’t I cry?’
• Depression: ‘How am I going to get through this?’ ‘I’m so tired.’ ‘I feel so hopeless.’
• Powerlessness: ‘Will I ever feel in control again?’
• Disorientation: ‘I don’t even know what day it is, or what I’m supposed to be doing.’
• Flashbacks: ‘The memories keep coming back to me.’ ‘I keep feeling like it’s happening again.’
• Fear: ‘I’m scared of everything.’ ‘I’m afraid to go out.’ ‘I’m afraid to be alone.’ ‘I can’t trust others.’
• Anxiety: ‘I’m having panic attacks.’ ‘I can’t breathe.’ ‘It’s so hard to settle my body.’
• Shame and embarrassment: ‘I can’t tell my family or friends.’ ‘I feel like there’s something wrong with me.’
• Guilt or self-blame: ‘I did something to make this happen.’ ‘If only I hadn’t…’
• Anger: ‘How dare they do this to me?’ ‘I want revenge!’
• Physical stress: ‘My stomach (or head or back) aches all the time.’ ‘I feel jittery.’ ‘I can’t get to sleep.’
• Change in appetite: ‘I’m binge eating all the time.’ ‘I just don’t feel like eating anything.’
• Avoiding locations: ‘I don’t want think I can come to the event today, that place brings back too many memories.’
• Spending time alone: ‘I don’t want to see anyone today.’ ‘They probably don’t want to hear from me.’
• Losing trust in people and organisations: ‘They won’t understand.’ ‘They won’t help me.’ ‘People are just going to treat me badly.’