Sexual assault – no matter how it occurs – can leave survivors with lasting emotional scars that affect many different areas of the lives. That includes their current and future romantic relationships.
For many survivors, the real challenge moving forward is tied to trying to rebuild a sense of security or trust in their intimate relationships. By their very nature, any intimate romantic relationship can trigger a sexual assault survivor’s feelings of vulnerability.
How PTSD from sexual assault can damage intimacy
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is created by trauma, including sexual violence. Sufferers may experience flashbacks of the sexual trauma, nightmares, severe anxiety and intrusive thoughts. These symptoms can deeply complicate romantic relationships due to the following:
- Anxiety: Survivors of sexual assault may exist in a perpetual state of anxiety and hypervigilance, where they constantly worry or feel suspicious about their partner’s intentions, even when there is no valid reason for concern. This can make them disconnect emotionally from their partners.
- Avoidance: Physical touch can sometimes trigger memories of a sexual assault, making any kind of bodily intimacy difficult or impossible. That can leave both the sexual assault survivor and their partner feeling lonely and isolated.
- Guilt: Many sexual assault survivors feel guilty about what happened to them, imagining that they could have done something to avoid the assault – even if that guilt is misplaced. In turn, their partners may feel guilty for being unable to protect them from the assault. That kind of internalized shame can lead to serious conflicts in their relationship.
If you’re a sexual assault survivor, it can be difficult to feel fully invested in your romantic relationship while you try to heal – and your partner may or may not be able to respond in a way that is affirming and positive. This is just one more aspect of your losses that should be considered when seeking compensation.
