People shouldn’t take sexual assault lightly. With that said, how many people actually know what is sexual assault? Sure, they hear a lot about it in the news, but what is it really? Also, what psychological effects does sexual assault have on victims?
What Is Sexual Assault?
For communities to have better sexual assault awareness, people have to understand this criminal act. When it comes to battling this kind of assault, knowing what is sexual assault is powerful.
Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or activity that happens without consent from all involved parties. However, keep in mind that it doesn’t just include activities such as non-consensual touching or rape. It also includes non-contact activities such as people exposing themselves to others. Sexual assault also has many names such as sexual harassment, abuse, or violence.
Why Is It So Hard to Pin Down Sexual Harassment?
One reason many people struggle to understand sexual assault is that the legal definition varies slightly from state to state. These variations cause confusion among people, so they don’t all understand it. Some of them don’t know their rights and never receive the help or justice that they deserve.
Once again, that’s why sexual assault awareness is so important. People of all ages should know what it sexual assault and be able to recognize when they’ve been victims of this type of crime.
Getting Help After Sexual Assault
Some people never get help for sexual harassment. They don’t always know that they’re victims, or they feel guilt or shame. Also, some people mistakenly believe that they brought the sexual harassment on themselves.
It’s essential for them to remember that they’re never to blame and to seek proper treatment. Failure to seek treatment can lead to the development of mental illnesses or addictions. Substance use disorder is one example. It can develop people when self-medicate their symptoms for a prolonged period.
While women are typically victims of sexual harassment, guys can be too. In fact, they’re even less likely than women to report being the victims of sexual assault. One reason is that they feel shame if someone takes advantage of them. Like women, though, it’s important to seek help to avoid problems like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can develop later on.
We Can Help You
Are you the victim of sexual assault? If so, consider getting help at Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles. We assist anyone who has had a traumatic experience, whether it’s sexual assault or a loved one’s death. Some of the help we provide includes:
Don’t wait any longer to get help. Find out more about what is sexual assault. Reach out to us today at 855-997-7101 for more information.
