One of several books that I am currently reading is called Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault written by Justin S. Holcomb & Lindsey A. Holcomb, Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois, 2011, page 40. I want to share a quote from this book with you.
"Because sexual assault is always traumatizing, victims are three times more likely than nonvictims to suffer from depression, six times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, thirteen times more likely to abuse alcohol, twenty-six times more likely to abuse drugs, and four times more likely to contemplate suicide."
The Holcombs got these figures from the following source:
National Center for Victims of Crime and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Rape in America: A Report to the Nation (Arlington, VA: National Center for Victims of Crime, 1992).
I am glad that someone is finally doing studies and coming out with statistics on sexual assault. Maybe someone will read these statistics and decide today that sexual assault, which includes rape and incest, has to stop. More people need to take action to stop these statistics from being true. Start out by not blaming the rape victim for their own rapes. Many children don't tell about their own sexual abuse situations because they are afraid for their safety and because they are afraid they won't be believed. So many children who do tell are blamed for their own abuse. Help me spread the awareness that sexual abuse has to stop.
Patricia
"Because sexual assault is always traumatizing, victims are three times more likely than nonvictims to suffer from depression, six times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, thirteen times more likely to abuse alcohol, twenty-six times more likely to abuse drugs, and four times more likely to contemplate suicide."
The Holcombs got these figures from the following source:
National Center for Victims of Crime and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Rape in America: A Report to the Nation (Arlington, VA: National Center for Victims of Crime, 1992).
I am glad that someone is finally doing studies and coming out with statistics on sexual assault. Maybe someone will read these statistics and decide today that sexual assault, which includes rape and incest, has to stop. More people need to take action to stop these statistics from being true. Start out by not blaming the rape victim for their own rapes. Many children don't tell about their own sexual abuse situations because they are afraid for their safety and because they are afraid they won't be believed. So many children who do tell are blamed for their own abuse. Help me spread the awareness that sexual abuse has to stop.
Patricia
24 comments:
So true, the more stats I read and the more stories I hear from other survivors the more I realise how bad things are at the moment and how much they need to change.
My Story My Pain, you are really fast. I just posted this article not 5 minutes ago. The statistics are horrible and so are many of the stories that I read or am told by survivors. We have to do something to change these facts. Thanks for leaving your comment.
"Because sexual assault is always traumatizing, VICTIMS are three times more likely than NONVICTIMS to suffer from depression, six times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, thirteen times more likely to abuse alcohol, twenty-six times more likely to abuse drugs, and four times more likely to contemplate suicide."
sad:)!!...but true!
Gca, yes it is very sad that sexual abuse can have such an effect upon the victims of the assault. Thank you for visiting my blog today.
The stats need to be recognized and understood in the court system.
I recognize there are innocent people who are charged for crimes they did not commit, ex: being picked in a line up because they looked like someone else, etc.
I said that because the criminal lawyers and public defenders have a job to do.
However, I sincerely believe having to be grilled and drilled and crucified on the court stand for 8 hours was worse than the rape. I felt raped again by the criminal attorney, by the perpetrator and felt that everyone in that courtroom was an accomplice. It was extremely painful and I just wanted to die.
I wish there was a way to present the case, argue and not make the victim out to be the criminal in court. That is so very devastating.
Pastor Sharon, the court system definitely needs to change its way of handling victims of sexual assault. Someone should have protected you from the horror of the courts and attorneys. So many victims of sexual assault don't report the crimes against them for just that reason. Something has to change.
Pastor Sharon, yes, I agree that the courts today revictim the victims of sexual assault. It has to stop.
Thank you for this, i have only just come across your blog when i noticed you re-tweeted something of mine on twitter (thank you for that)
When i am a bit more 'stable' i do research myself and find most statistics i come across shocking but true. In regards to that quote i have been affected by all of those, except perhaps drug abuse. I am interested so much in finding out as much as i can about sexual assault so i can use this information to raise awareness, educate and try to make changes.
Thank you for doing, what i wish to do in the future!
Pinks
P.S - Pastor sharon, id just like to add that i too was revictimsed by our legal system, and in some ways found it more traumatic than my assault (i guess because i was in shock and dissociated when the assault happened) It was learning that my abuser was not to be prosecuted that triggered me out of shock and spiraled me down this dark path worsening my ptsd, depression, suicidal thoughts and even lead me to self harming. I just wanted to share this, because if i don't tell my story....then i cant initiate change. Trying to be brave to tell the truth about my experience.
- Sorry for the long comment!
Miss Pinks, don't ever worry about the link of your comments when you are on my blog. Just say what you need to day when you need to say it. Welcome to my blog. I am glad that you came for a visit. I hope you will return at any time.
Telling our story is a very important step to take in healing from sexual assault of any kind. I feel sad that you and Pastor Sharon were also raped by the legal system. It should not be that way. We do need to work to change the revictimization that our courts do.
You are very welcome for the retweets on Twitter. I just saw your Tweets for the first time earlier today.
Thanks, Patricia! I have read those statistics too... and have read others that suggest an even higher rate of depression for those who were assaulted by someone they trusted. Interesting, because our society seems to think we only have a right to heal if we were attacked by a stranger who jumped out of the bushes. I wish people understood the seriousness of the crime. More survivors are sentenced to a lifetime of depression, addiction and suicide than perpetrators are sentenced to jail time.
Aerin Catherine, thank you for your comment. I agree with you. Justice is not served by revictimizing the victims of sexual assault the way that our current court system does. Things need to change.
I've got to order this book now. Thanks for the info.
Dr. Deb, I haven't gotten very far into the book yet. I like what I have read so far. You are very welcome. Thanks for the visit.
Pat thank you for sharing on this. Vital info. Blessings and safe hugs.
JBR, you are very welcome. Yes, it is vital information that we need to know if we are ever going to stop sexual assault which includes incest and rape in its figures. Sadly, any numbers that we see are greatly underestimated because so many sexual abuse survivors are too afraid to speak out so they are not counted. The incest that I survived was never reported. By speaking out today, I hope that we can change those figures.
Hi Patricia, I'm actually dismayed that the statistics are from 1992; I'm sure there are more recent studies. I am directing your readers to a narrative from a study I did in 2002 about the correlation between rape and suicide. http://bit.ly/9CnSz1 This has been a topic of study for me and my Project 4 TEARS: Telling Everyone About Rape & Suicide. Sadly, the statistics show that 13 percent of those who experience rape are likely to attempt suicide. There is a lot of disparity in the numbers. A decade ago I could have sworn that what society needed was more real life stories of recovery, not more numbers and graphs. Now it seems that society responds to dollars and sense, and closes eyes and ears to real stories due to desensitization. I just don't know.
I found this in my notes for the aforementioned suicide statistics. This is very scary, and a reason for paying attention to the books with facts about the after effects of sexual abuse, whether survivor stories or statistics:
Between 30 & 40% of suicides have tried before
1% of those who attempt will complete w/in 1 YR
10% of those who attempt will complete w/in 10 YRS
What a loss of human potential!
Lynn, thank you for sharing this frightening statistic. I choose to see any attempts as a cry for help and that someone needs to pay attention.
Lynn, I almost missed your 1st comment thinking it was the 2nd. I would have thought that the book would have used newer statistics if they were available. The book itself just came out this year. Thank you for the link and the information.
Sexual assault especially I children have severe effects both in physical and psychological aspects and can last both in the short and longer period. Sadly many are still apathetic about this serious social issue.
Amelie, yes, there seems to be much denial and apathy about child abuse as a whole, but especially sexual abuse of a child. This is why it is so important for survivors to speak out and tell our stories so that others become aware of how bad things are. Childhood sexual abuse is not something that is easily gotten over no matter how much a survivor and others want it to be gone. Sexual abuse in any form has lasting effects upon the survivor.
Somehow I found this page ,.. Maybe some way to express a life long toxic life that was covered by an EGO that helped me survived ... and yet made so many SUFFER around me . A religious belief ... , 2 0f my 7 amazing children's death , my husbands death , a son in prison , type 1 diabetic son , (single mother of 2) daughter, lesbian ( no shame for me ) daughter .... IAM overwhelmed ...trying to get healthy to be The MOTHER they deserve ... IAM no saint .. Just don't know how to address my own pain of sexual assault by a family member,.. Desperate and somehow trying to find a way to help us all .. I am. The only thing my children have left . Not looking for a hand out $$ !!! Just need help
D, keep reading my blog and do a Google search for support groups for childhood sexual abuse. Find a trauma trained therapist if you can afford one. They can give you professional help for a faster journey through the pain of healing. It hurts to heal but there is a good life waiting for you and a better mother for your children if you do the healing work. There are many other blogs out there too. The book Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis had the biggest impact on my healing from incest.
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