This guide is for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. You may have experienced sexual assault recently or in the past. This guide gives information on common reactions to sexual assault and advice on self-care, plus information on the support available at 56 Dean Street. This guide also gives information on how to access further information on sexual assault and how to access specialist services in London.
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WHAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT?
“SEXUAL ASSAULT IS ANY ACT OF A SEXUAL NATURE WHERE ONE PERSON HAS NOT GIVEN THEIR CONSENT”— THE HAVENS
CONDITIONAL CONSENT
If a condition of your consent was not met e.g. you consented to sex with a condom, and the condom was removed/not used without your knowledge, this is also considered sexual assault. This is sometimes referred to as ‘stealthing’ and is a prosecutable offence.
Rape is a type of sexual assault that is defined as a person putting their penis in someone else’s mouth, anus or vagina without their consent. Sexual assault and rape are serious crimes. The maximum prison sentence for rape and sexual assault is life imprisonment.
Sexual violence is a crime that can affect all sections of society including, women, girls, boys, men, including people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or intersex (LGBT+) and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.
ON AVERAGE, ONE IN FOUR WOMEN AND ONE IN TEN MEN ARE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THEIR LIFETIME.
Perpetrators of sexual assault can be family members, friends, partners, acquaintances, as well as strangers.
The responsibility of sexual assault is always with the perpetrator. It is never the fault of the survivor.
MALE SURVIVORS
There are some misconceptions about the sexual assault of men that can make it more emotionally difficult for the male survivor and become an obstacle in accessing support.
Any man can be abused or assaulted regardless of size, strength, appearance or sexual orientation. A perpetrator can be of any sexuality as it is about violence, anger, power and control over another person, NOT lust, desire or sexual attraction. Also having an erection and or ejaculation during a sexual assault is involuntary and does not equate to enjoyment or consent.
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LGBT+ SURVIVORS
Sexual assault affects all communities, including LGBT+. This stands for Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, and the + is used to indicate that people with a range of identities are also included, for example, people who identify as non-binary, gender fluid, intersex and those who are questioning their sexuality or gender identity.
Research suggests that rates of sexual assault may
be higher in people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual. But homophobia can prevent people who are LGBTQ from speaking about a sexual assault. It is important to remember that sexual assault is an abuse of power, not a question of sexuality.
Some gay and bisexual men may worry about having to explain the circumstances in which the sexual violence happened and whether that would lead to a judgemental or prejudiced response.
You can access an information sheet that covers some of the issues and support felt by LGBT+ survivors here
CHEMSEX
Chemsex is a term used to describe the use of
any combination of drugs that include crystal methamphetamine, mephedrone and/or GHB/
GBL by men who are associated with more sexually adventurous sex, which can involve a number of partners over an extended period of time. These situations can sometimes be problematic regarding issues like consent, and the ability to give consent whilst under the influence.
It is important to remember, if someone is asleep, unconscious, or so ‘out of it’ that they cannot make a decision for themselves, then they cannot consent. If someone has sex with you while you’re unable to consent, this is sexual assault.8
Those involved in Chemsex might fear a judgemental response if they talk about what happened or may be worried that they will be charged with a drugs offence, even if they were the victim. You won’t be arrested for using or telling the Police you have used drugs; that isn’t illegal.
For more information about Chemsex here
TRANSGENDER SURVIVORS
Transphobia and Transgender-sexual assault can sometimes occur in the same context, or the line between the two assaults can be confusing. Any physical or sexual assault against you is completely wrong. As well as acts of violence or sexual violence, assault can also include inappropriate touching or searching and the removal of your clothing or a wig without your consent.
When talking about Transgender sexual assault, the rules are the same. Any sexual activity without your consent is sexual assault. Gender identity is not an ‘excuse’ or justification for perpetrators of sexual assault.
SEX WORKERS
Many sex workers don’t report rape or other violence for fear of being arrested themselves. Evidence suggests that offenders may deliberately target those who sell sex because they believe they will not report the crime to the police. Perpetrators of such offences can include clients or pimps.
According to the Crime Prosecution Service, “those who sell sex should not be treated as offenders but as people who may be or become victims of crime”. This means that the police are more interested in prosecuting crimes of rape and sexual violence than the sale of sex.
As a sex worker, you give consent to sex with a client, on your terms that are agreed prior. This is called conditional consent. Any deviation from those terms, including removal of a condom and refusal to pay, are considered by the law to be sexual assault.
Seriously consider reporting incidents to the police. Most police forces now have liaison officers for people involved in the sex industry. If you wish to report to
the police, you can talk it through first with your local sex work support project and they can support you to report if you wish. You have the right to report violence and other crimes and have these investigated like every other person.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED RECENTLY:
If this has happened to you recently, you might be experiencing lots of different feelings. There is no right or wrong way to feel.
Sexual assault is a traumatic experience and your mind and body go into shock.
When we experience a trauma, our brain cannot process information and store memories in the way we normally would. The parts of our brain that would normally store information and create manageable emotional responses to situations we encounter are overwhelmed.
This often means that trauma memories are left unprocessed. This means that these memories often lack coherence, or can be difficult to place within
a wider context or time frame. Sometimes, trauma memories are fragmented or partial, or are not like a memory at all, in that they can feel as if they are happening to us again right now.
This is a normal response to an abnormal experience. Sometimes trauma memories can be processed over time and will naturally begin to feel more manageable. At other times we may need to seek support to help overcome the impact of unprocessed memories
LONGER-TERM IMPACT OF TRAUMA
Aside from the brain struggling to process trauma memories, we can be left experiencing a range of emotional difficulties. This can include:
For example:
If you find you have been experiencing these symptoms for more than three months following an experience
of trauma, this could be a sign of a condition called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This condition can be treated successfully, but it will be important that you seek support from your GP or a mental health professional that will be able to support you.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THE PAST:
Whether you were an adult or a child when it happened, rape and sexual assault can have big impacts on your health, life and relationships. Some of these can be long lasting.
For example:
Again, experiencing on-going distress linked to trauma that has occurred in the past is often a sign that memories of the traumatic event have been left unprocessed, and seeking support to help manage this is often very important to help support longer-term recovery.
Whether you have been sexually assaulted recently or in the past, you are not alone, there is support available.
SUPPORT AVAILABLE AT THE CLINIC
The Health Adviser Team can offer a safe space to talk about how you are feeling when you are ready.
Health Advisers are unable to provide specialist counselling, however, they can assess whether counselling or therapy would be useful and help you access specialist services.
You can refer yourself to the Health Adviser team by completing a self-referral form. Please complete the form and hand it to reception. A member of the team will contact you within 14 days.
Alternatively, if you live in London, you can refer yourself directly to specialist services via the London Survivor’s Gateway. The London Survivors Gateway offers survivors of rape and sexual abuse help to access specialist services in London.
They provide information on what help is available in London following any form of sexual violence and help to access these services. You may access their services regardless of how long ago the assault happened. Find out more here.
London Survivors Gateway: 0808 801 0860
Monday – Friday: 10am-4pm
TOOLS TO HELP YOU COPE WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT
How you respond to sexual assault is going to be individual to you. There is no right or wrong way to feel. This guide is about normalising common reactions to help you understand and process your own individual reactions, and is drawn from a body of resources. These tools are used by survivors and therapists within the Survivors Gateway network.
MANAGING TRIGGERS AND FLASHBACKS
What are they and why do they happen?
Having flashbacks or dealing with intrusive memories is a common experience for survivors of sexual assault. It can feel like the event is happening all over again. These memories are a way of the logical mind attempting to make sense of what has happened and are a natural part of the healing process. Accept and reassure yourself that you are having a flashback and use one of the following grounding exercises to help you come back to the present.
GROUNDING EXERCISES
MANAGING HYPER-VIGILANCE AND ANXIETY
Being hyper-alert is a normal response to trauma. We can often find that we become more aware of the potential danger around us, and things that previously may not have worried us can feel anxiety-provoking or threatening.
It is your body trying to stay safe and guard against danger. However, it can get in the way of your normal routine. Try to engage in physical activity every day. Trying different things to relax such as watching TV, listening to music or reading can help. Survivors can experience extreme anxiety which may be experienced as physical symptoms, for example, difficulty in breathing, muscle tension, nausea or headaches.
Sometimes this can lead to us avoiding situations or trying to escape from situations that might trigger memories of trauma or cause anxiety. This is a very normal response but can mean that we begin to limit our lives or struggle to engage with the world around us in ways we might previously have done.
When you are feeling like this, it is important to try and remind yourself that you are safe and that you are not back at the time your trauma occurred. Our brains, in an attempt to protect us, will predict that the trauma will occur again or that we might be in danger if we re- enter situations that cause us anxiety.
This often is not true. Try to focus on what is different now. How is your current situation different? What would be different about entering a feared situation now? What could you put in place to make yourself feel safe? Who is around you that could make this experience easier?
It can be important to try and bring your attention to the present moment by focussing on what you can
see, feel, taste, touch or smell right now. This is called grounding. Try bringing your attention to objects, sounds or smells that weren’t connected to the trauma, and try to use this to remind yourself how your current situation is different and safe.
MANAGING GUILT AND SHAME
Many survivors feel guilty and ashamed following
a sexual assault. You may blame yourself through self-talk such as “I should not have met up with him, I should not have taken drugs”.
Unfortunately, we still live in a society that is often quick to blame victims of sexual assault, and we
can often feel a sense of responsibility for what has happened to us. These ideas are based on myth, and for the survivor may often lead to on-going feelings of shame that can mean we find it difficult to talk about what has happened and seek help.
IF YOU NOTICE THAT YOU ARE HAVING NEGATIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT YOURSELF, TRY TO WRITE THEM DOWN AND CHALLENGE THEM. IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO SEE THIS SITUATION? HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO A FRIEND WHO WAS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION?
Shame can grow when we feel bad about ourselves and we do not talk about it with anyone. Getting support and acceptance from others can prevent shame from taking hold.
Being compassionate means thinking about ways in which we might be kind to ourselves when we are in distress. How would you like to treat yourself when you feel scared? What could you do to produce feelings of safety and relaxation? How might you talk to yourself? What might you do?
Thinking about this can help you feel more prepared for times when you feel anxious, fearful or low and give you clues around how to manage feelings of shame and guilt that can emerge.
Try to find ways of recognising what you are doing well, how resilient you are and the strengths and skills you know you have. Reminding yourself that you are valuable and skilled can help us challenge the ideas of guilt and responsibility that often comes along with trauma.
MANAGING SUICIDAL THINKING
Having suicidal thoughts and feelings is a common response to trauma. Experiencing strong emotions and distress can be overwhelming and can make survivors feel unable to cope or to continue. There are many ways to manage suicidal thoughts and feelings. If you are thinking about suicide it is important for you to talk to someone and get help immediately.
IMPROVING SLEEP AND MANAGING NIGHTMARES
Many survivors report that they struggle with sleep and can experience nightmares to do with the event. Once again, this is the minds way of understanding traumatic memories. Sleep problems are common because your mind is on high alert. Below is a practical list of things that can support you when you are struggling to sleep.
IF YOU EXPERIENCE A NIGHTMARE
