PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS OF RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME
Psychological symptoms are much less visible and can in fact be completely hidden to others so survivors need to offer this information or be carefully and sensitively questioned in order to elicit them. They generally refer to inner thoughts, ideas and emotions.
- Increased fear and anxiety.
- Self-blame and guilt.
- Helplessness, no longer feeling in control of her life.
- Humiliation and shame.
- Lowering of her self esteem
- Feeling dirty or contaminated by the rape
- Anger
- Feeling alone and that no one understands.
- Losing hope in the future.
- Emotional numbness.
- Confusion
- Loss of memory.
- Constantly thinking about the rape.
- Having flashbacks to the rape, feeling like it is happening again.
- Nightmares
- Depression.
- Becoming suicidal.