Sexual assault can have a significant impact on both your mental health and physical health. Each person’s experience with it is different, so if you’re feeling numb, detached, or indifferent, that’s OK, too. 

Sexual assault is especially common on college campuses. Approximately 26% of undergraduate women and 7% of undergraduate men experience non-consensual sexual contact during college. Because a school is a tight-knit community, getting the help you need and seeking justice may seem complicated. Your well-being and college experience are just as important as anyone else’s. Your needs after a sexual assault will be unique, and you deserve personalized support.

If you’re experiencing a crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. You can also reach the RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) hotline at 800-656-HOPE.

In this article, we’ll talk about how sexual assault can affect your mental health and what you should know to get the help you need and start healing.

Things every college student should know about mental health after sexual assault

The first thing to know is that each person responds to each traumatic experience differently. There’s a lot of variation in trauma responses to sexual assault: you may feel like you’re in a fog or overwhelmed with emotion in the days and weeks afterward. Or the emotional impact may be delayed and show up later on. You may have trouble sleeping or changes in appetite and energy level. 

It’s extremely common for women to experience some form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after sexual assault. The recovery process isn’t linear and gradual. Whatever you’re feeling at any given moment, try to meet yourself with compassion and acceptance.

The following are some additional things every college student should know about mental health after sexual assault:

It’s not your fault 

You’ve probably heard messages throughout your lifetime reinforcing the idea that survivors of sexual assault often bear much of the responsibility for what happened to them. “She was asking for it.” and “She shouldn’t have been doing xyz.” are prime examples. This is sometimes called “rape culture” or “victim blaming.” 

What you were wearing, how you were acting, and how much you had to drink don’t make it right for another person to touch you without your consent. If you’re struggling with blame or guilt, talk about it with someone you can trust.

Help is available 

There are care providers and supporters who can help you at every stage of your recovery. In the moments and days after a sexual assault, hotlines and patient advocates can help you access immediate care. Support groups can be a great place to connect with peers who understand what you’re going through. 

Your school’s student health center, a licensed outpatient therapist, or a treatment center can help with your mental health in the long term. Virtual Services may be more accessible and affordable than going to an in-person clinic.

Your worth as a person hasn’t changed 

Self-worth is something each person must develop and maintain. After a sexual assault, you may feel alienated from yourself or feel like you’ve lost something vital. The truth is that your worth hasn’t changed: everyone is inherently valuable and deserves bodily autonomy and dignity. Recovering your relationship with yourself may take some work, but it is possible.

Any form of sexual assault or harassment can be traumatic 

“It wasn’t that bad.” is another lie that comes from rape culture. Unwanted attention, comments, controlling behavior, anything that overwhelms your ability to cope or makes you feel unsafe can be traumatic. 

You may experience fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses as well as anxiety and depression symptoms, flashbacks, and guilt. Comparing your experience to someone else’s will only suppress your feelings, while acknowledging them is more likely to help you process and heal them. 

Other people’s reactions are less about you and more about them 

Loved ones, friends, mentors, and even care providers may react in ways that don’t make you feel seen or supported. This can be very painful and confusing, and if you need to adjust your relationship or your boundaries with them, that’s understandable. Know that it’s a reflection of their views on sexual assault first and foremost, and that your worth doesn’t depend on another person’s opinion of you. 

The connection between trauma and mental health conditions 

If you have an underlying mental health condition, experiencing sexual assault may bring out your symptoms. Dealing with the effects of trauma takes up energy and mental and physical resources. You may feel isolated or experience a strain on your relationships. All of this is normal, but that doesn’t make it any easier to manage. If you’re having trouble in any of these areas, consider seeking help from a licensed professional.

Understanding your options and seeking help for sexual assault as a student

While surviving sexual assault may feel very isolating, there are many other people who have had similar experiences, and it is possible to make a full recovery. Healing from sexual assault isn’t about ‘getting over it’ or returning to who you were before. It’s about integrating your experience in a way that allows you to move forward with strength and hope.

It can be hard to know who to trust, but there are some safeguards that work in your favor:

• Title IX prevents educational institutions that receive federal funding from discriminating against victims of sexual misconduct. 
• You may be able to get excused absences or accommodations while you’re recovering through your school’s disability services center. 
• Mental health and medical care providers have strict patient confidentiality codes, which means they can’t share your information without your consent. With on-campus resources, it’s a good idea to confirm confidentiality first. 
• Trauma-informed care providers should be able to provide support that’s empowering without adding to feelings of shame or fear. 

Finding care providers who are a good fit for you helps ensure you get the best therapeutic experience. At Lightfully, our licensed clinicians take a trauma-informed and compassionate approach. We see our clients as people first, and we provide holistic services that support your whole life. We also offer Virtual Services to make treatment more convenient and affordable for college students.

Are you looking for intensive mental health care to help you recover from a sexual assault? We can help. Reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team or contact us today.