You’re Not Broken: Understanding Trauma After Sexual Violence

Sexual violence can leave behind more than physical wounds. It can cause trauma—a deep and lasting impact on the brain, body, and emotions. But trauma doesn’t always look the way people expect. It’s not always loud or visible. And it doesn’t mean someone is broken.

Understanding what trauma is can help survivors make sense of their experiences—and remind them that what they’re feeling is valid.

Trauma Is a Survival Response

Trauma is the emotional, psychological, and physical response to an experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. For survivors of sexual violence, trauma may begin during the assault, after the assault, or even years later. It can also be triggered by events that remind the survivor of what happened.

The American Psychiatric Association defines trauma as exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. This can include directly experiencing sexual assault, witnessing it, or learning that a loved one was harmed.

Sexual violence is traumatic because it violates a person’s boundaries, safety, and sense of control. Survivors may experience:

• Fear or panic
• Emotional numbness
• Hypervigilance (feeling constantly on edge)
• Flashbacks or nightmares
• Anxiety or depression
• Physical symptoms like headaches or stomach pain

None of these responses mean a survivor is “weak” or “damaged.” In fact, trauma reactions are the body’s way of protecting itself from danger.

Everyone Experiences Trauma Differently

There is no “correct” way to respond to trauma. Some survivors feel the impact right away. Others might not realize what they’re going through until much later. For those with a history of childhood abuse, systems-based violence, or race-based harm, the effects can be even more complex.

You might feel fine one day and overwhelmed the next. You might feel disconnected from your body or emotions. Or you might not remember parts of what happened. These are all normal trauma responses.

The key to healing is knowing that these responses are not your fault—and you don’t have to go through them alone.

A Trauma-Informed Path to Healing

Healing from trauma takes time, and it often involves different kinds of support. Many survivors find it helpful to speak with a therapist who specializes in trauma and sexual violence. Others may join peer support groups, practice grounding techniques, or explore art, movement, or nature as part of their healing journey.

Trauma-informed care means:

• You are treated with respect and compassion
• Your boundaries are honored
• You are believed
• You are in control of what happens next

RAINN believes that every survivor deserves care that honors their experiences and supports their healing in whatever form it takes.

You Are Not Alone

Trauma may be part of your story, but it doesn’t define who you are. Support, healing, and hope are always within reach.

Sources

• Herman, Judith L. Trauma and Recovery. Basic Books, 1992.
• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.).
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “Trauma and Violence.” samhsa.gov
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network. “What Is Trauma?” nctsn.org