Sexual Abuse & A Global Pandemic – More Similar Than Not

We know that all of us are focused on the current COVID-19 crisis and adjusting to all the changes that it has brought to everyone. HCWC has made significant adjustments as we continue to respond to the needs of local victims of abuse.

They need us even more now and part of our responsibility is to advocate and educate on their behalf. April is both Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness month.

The following article is the third article of a four-week series focusing on raising awareness about sexual assault and child abuse. 2 in 5 women and 1 in 5 men will experience a form of sexual assault in their lifetime.

By Laura De La Paz, MS, LPC | Non-Resident Sexual Assault Counselor II

COVID-19 has brought out mixed emotions and feelings across the globe. There is fear, panic, and anxiety to name a few.

Some people are taking the time to reflect and reevaluate their lives, while others are in survival mode and attempting to figure out how they will make it through the next few days.

For some victims of abuse, this is another crisis added to the many challenges they have already experienced and lived through.

Trauma

Sexual abuse is a trauma. The global pandemic being lived through right now is a trauma. According to the American Psychological Association, “trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster”. 

When a person experiences trauma, they can respond in a variety of ways. There are immediate effects, such as shock, confusion, expressed emotion (ex. crying spells), and minimizing what they just experienced.

There are also long term effects, such as depression, flashbacks, anxiety, and persistent fear.

Both immediate and long term effects are unique to the individual; these listed are some more commonly and frequently observed.

What is not often discussed is the emotional scarring that an individual that has been sexually abused has to live with for the rest of their life.

These emotional scars can be a result of not only the actual trauma that they experienced but also from how those around them respond.

It is important for support systems and trauma responders to understand that trauma and its responses are unique to the individual.

Think about it: during this global pandemic: have you reacted and responded the same as your loved ones and neighbors? Probably not. Everyone’s lives have been changed in different ways, meaning their response is also different.

Listen, Believe, and Support

There are various stigmas surrounding the appropriate and inappropriate manners in which one should respond to trauma.

Some even have an opinion on the length of time a survivor should experience the effects of the trauma. Many survivors of sexual abuse have shared that these stigmas are barriers to their healing.

Many times assumptions are made on why survivors have chosen to remain silent and yet for those that do speak out, they face an onslaught of opinions and judgments that are unfair.  This compounds the trauma.

Have you ever asked yourself, how have I contributed to the silencing of a victim? How have I contributed negatively to the long term effects they may experience? How have I supported a survivor who trusted me with their story? Am I a part of the problem or am I a part of the movement to end sexual violence in my community?  

Sexual abuse, no matter the age it was experienced, is a forever scar. A scar that many survivors have acknowledged is difficult and challenging to accept and live with.

However, these resilient individuals have also made a commitment to themselves that they will not let this scar hold them back from thriving, healing, and continuing to live their best lives.

The hope is that their community will follow suit by supporting them and respecting their method of healing. If you ever find yourself not knowing how to support a loved one that has shared that they have experienced sexual abuse, start by asking them how you can best support them.

Remember to rally with your loved ones. This global pandemic too is a forever scar. People have had to learn how to rely on each other to survive and together we can save lives.

Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC) has been committed to not only serving local victims of abuse but also educating and raising awareness about family violence, dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse since 1978.

Due to the current crisis, we’ve ramped up our social media and online education efforts. Follow us on FaceBook, Instagram or Twitter using the handle @HCWCenter and visit our educational website www.stopthehurt.org or for services information visit www.hcwc.org or call our 24-hour HELPLine at (512)396-4357 for more information.