Are the effects of sexual assault and rape different?
 

I posted this on another forum, and found although people didnt respond much, the response i got was very helpful to me. Until now id been too shy to post this on this forum, but here it is now.

I have been seriously sexually assaulted a few times in my life. Technically, none of these incidents was rape.

But i was left feeling dirty, terrified, alone and overpowered. The voilence associated with it made me feel dominated and small.

I know some people kind of overlook what happened to me, saying 'oh well at least it wasnt rape'. My friend was raped last year, and i feel bad for letting something 'less serious' than rape affect me so deeply, because i really cant understand the traumatic experience she went through. I feel giulty for feeling terrible about something that could have been much worse.

So i was wondering- would they still give the same effects or not?

Personally i think probably not, although it depends on the entire situation. My main abuser was very violent and used his size, strength and interlectual advantage to overpower me.

What is everyone's view on this? I'm quite confused.

To be honest I think the effects generally are the same but it also depends on each individual and the circumstances because everyone has different ways of dealing with thing so I think it's less about the actual actions that happen and more about how the indivdual deals with it because you will find that often two people who have both been raped react and feel completely differently which would happen if you took two people who had been sexually assualted.

No matter what happens all that matters is how it makes you feel because when you are hurt or controlled by someone it hurts and upsets you whatever it was.

I agree pretty much 100% with Katy.
=)

Though i would like to say i am in a position similar to yours (I have been sexually assaulted but not raped). It's must be very hard to understand how you are supposed to feel when people come at you with the "atleast you didn't get raped" response. Thats probably why i've only ever told one person (my partner) out of necessity really.

Rape and sexual assaults are both very traumatic and individuals will react differently. I personally would say that you shouldn't compare what has happened to you with others. Both these actions are serious and for people to say things like "at least it wasn't rape" arent necessarily true. The effects can vary from person to person, you shouldn't feel terrible about this effecting you deeply as its just how you are recovering.

The effects usually are around the same things, as you have described, however once again everyone is different. It was really brave of you for telling us on this forum *hugs*
x

it depends of the person really.... but ive been sexually abused and raped and ive been effected the same with both of them well acturly i suffer more from the sexual abuse but i think because i havent really let the rape sink in but i felt the same after both.

if you ever nee to talk feel free to pm me.

well.....i agree with everyone here it depends on the person =)

I was sexually assaulted, but I always feel as though I don't have as much of a valid claim to be affected by it than I would if I had been raped. It has affected me badly, but I don't like to talk about it because I feel that people are going to think I'm over-reacting.