trauma & recovery

OVERVIEW

Aside from physical harm, victims of violent crimes, such as sexual abuse and rape, also suffer emotional and psychological wounds. Even the most physically and mentally strong individuals are likely to experience shock, anxiety, depression, shame, and a number of psychosomatic symptoms following the victimization. These symptoms may be far reaching and long lasting. Sexual abuse and rape are among the most psychologically damaging of all crimes.

For the survivor, sexual victimization may represent a major crisis in many aspects of one's life, physical, emotional, social, and sexual. Survivors of sexual abuse and rape consistently describe certain symptoms or reactions following a victimization. Through the years, this grouping of symptoms has been called different names. However, they are most commonly referred to as Rape Trauma Syndrome and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The following design was created by a 15 year old survivor