Understanding Sexual Assault and Treating the Trauma Caused
Sexual assault is any non-consensual sexual act. It includes any time the victim cannot give explicit consent due to age, being intoxicated, or having mental health issues.
If you are asking yourself if certain sexual contact or behavior was sexually abusive, our “Was I Sexually Assaulted Quiz” can help you determine how to categorize what happened.
Many in the Tucson area know Catalina Behavioral Health as a leader in recovery from addiction to alcohol or drugs. However, we are also experts in trauma-informed care and have helped many heal from PTSD and sexual trauma.
Our experts acknowledge the close connection between victims of sexual assault and substance use disorder and often dismantle these threads as we help people heal.
We invite you to read more to learn about the definition of sexual violence and take our self-assessment quiz.
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Trigger Warning: This Page Discusses Sexual Violence
This article will discuss physical abuse and forced sexual activity. It can be triggering for those who are survivors of these or other forms of physical force and harm.
If you need support or treatment, please call Catalina Behavioral Health immediately. We can help you resolve the trauma.
Unwanted Touching or Sexual Acts Are Assault
Although we are not lawyers, we have looked up the legal parameters of sexual assault. Federal laws, and most state and tribal laws, define it as a sexual act performed without explicit consent. That includes a victim who is not of the legal age to consent or someone unable to consent due to mental incapacity or intoxication.
Further, it refers not only to rape but to other sexual behavior, such as unwanted touching, forced sexual contact, coercion, or making threats.
Was I Sexually Assaulted Quiz
Are you trying to decide if a specific sexual act was actually a sexual assault? This understanding can help you begin the healing journey if you remain silent out of fear. Take our “Was I Sexually Assaulted” quiz to help you understand the signs. Ask yourself the following questions:
1) Did someone engage in sexual activity without your verbal consent?
Consent refers to providing clear, verbal, enthusiastic agreement before sexual activity. Without it, the boundaries of trust and respect are violated, which indicates sexual abuse or assault.
2) Were you forced or bullied into any form of sexual activity against your will?
A person who uses force or bullying tactics undermines your bodily autonomy and personal boundaries. Coercion is one of the clearest-cut signs of sexual assault without regard for the sexual orientation or gender of the person involved.
3) Did you or the other party perform sexual acts while incapacitated due to drugs, drinking, or unconsciousness?
Sex while intoxicated or passed out means that consent was not freely given. This scenario can cause extreme, unresolved trauma and mental health issues. It generally requires seeking professional help to feel safe again.
4) Have you experienced unwanted touching without giving consent?
Sexual touches without giving consent are a common type of sexual violence. It can lead to emotional or psychological distress. It can also occur between family, friends, or in a romantic relationship, making it difficult for survivors to seek judgment-free support.
5) Did the other person threaten you or use physical force to sexually assault or abuse you?
If the person used threats or any form of force, you’ve most likely been sexually assaulted. Physical violence betrays your space and can cause you to feel uncomfortable in your own skin for years to come without therapy. In a romantic context, it can cause you to have little trust in future relationships or life partners, and/or make trauma bonding more likely.
6) Were you pressured or bullied into sex by someone in a position of authority or power?
If giving consent only happened after a pressure campaign by someone of importance, then you’ve probably been sexually assaulted. This person engaging in this sexual abuse might be a boss, teacher, religious leader, or trusted family friend. It exploits the power dynamic within the relationship and destroys your life.
Mental Health Impact of Sexual Violence
Besides the physical threats of sexually transmitted infections or unplanned pregnancy, sexual abuse or assault can lead to many mental health concerns:
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD can cause those who have survived incidents that involve physical force can start having the flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance associated with PTSD. These require professional medical attention to process and recover.
Depression or Anxiety Disorders
Feelings of self-blame, shame, or feeling uncomfortable in one’s own skin occurs after rape or other forced sex acts. These can trigger chronic depression or panic and anxiety attacks in the aftermath. It often requires targeted therapies to process the trauma that leads to these mental health concerns and other signs of trauma.
Substance Use Disorder and Sexual Abuse
Whether someone has felt pressured to engage in a sexual act or has been the victim of a violent rape or assault, they may start using drugs or drinking alcohol to dull the memory. Drug or alcohol abuse sometimes happens, as victims feel uncomfortable discussing the incident and internalize their feelings. They fear the stigma and victim blame and rely on substances to ease the trauma of unwanted sexual activity.
Get Effective Trauma Treatment Options
Trauma Treatment for Sexually Assaulted Individuals
After a sexual assault incident, victims often keep the incident to themselves. They avoid talking freely about what happened with family and friends.
They fear answering questions or even being blamed. Professional, trauma-informed care at Catalina Behavioral Health can help you heal after being sexually assaulted. Here are a few ways we can help:
Integrated Treatment for the Trauma of Sexual Assault
We can help you recover from both the trauma of what has happened and any additional mental health issues arising from the sexual abuse or assault incident. We also teach you methods to cope with daily stress that will reduce its impact on your physical well-being.
We Rely on Evidence-Based Therapies
Our therapists use science-backed methods to facilitate healing in individual, group, and family therapy sessions. Each intervention is specifically designed to help you process the trauma and learn to live with it in a more balanced way.
Resources for U of A Students Who Have Been Sexually Assaulted
The University of Arizona has a student population of almost 50,000 students, 10.8% of Tucson’s total population.
U of A students who have been sexually assaulted, raped, or coerced into sex have access to several university support services:
- CAPS: The University’s Counseling and Psych Services (CAPS) provides crisis intervention and mental health support. You can call them at 520.621.3334.
- TRiO Student Support Services: This department connects first-generation, low-income, and disabled students with empowering services. Connect with them at 520.621.8570 for more information.
- Dean of Students Office: For other forms of support services, call the Dean of Students at 520.621.7057. They keep updated lists of all options for students who need help.
These places can assist sexual assault or other victims when seeking professional care and healing.
Up To 100% of Rehab Costs Covered By Insurance
Call Us for Help After Taking the “Was I Sexually Assaulted” Quiz
As you can see from our Was I Sexually Assaulted quiz, sexual activity without consent is the most basic of all signs of sexual assault.
We cannot turn back time and change what happened. However, our treatment team can help diminish the residual signs of trauma that you are still carrying with you today.
Contact the Catalina admissions team with any questions; it is always confidential. We are here to help you feel safe again.
