Question & Answers
Q: ”Since she was raped, my teenage daughter has been having sex a lot. why is she behaving like this? It doesn't make sense"
A: Each person who experiences sexual violence reacts differently. Some survivors respond by engaging in a lot of sexual activity with many partners while others stop all sexual activity. Each of these are normal, common reactions to the traumatic event, but your concerns are vaild. her response may take an emotional toll on both you and your daughter. The sexual assault impacted your daughter's sense of control over her life and sexuality, and she may view sexual activity as a way to regain control. Talking to a counselor about her experiences may help your daughter understand the link between the assault and her sexual choices. It may be helpful to also talk to your daughter about how to stay safe during sexual activity
Q: “My brother was sexually abused as a kid. As an adult, he abuses drugs and alcohol. Are these connected?”
A: Most likely, yes. Higher levels of stress caused by fear and danger related to sexual violence can cause long-term effects to the brain and can heighten the need for coping mechanisms, including self-medication. Research shows overwhelming evidence that victims of sexual. Violence are much more likely to use alcohol and other drugs to cope with their trauma. Drugs and alcohol produce chemical changes to the body each time they are used. They are a reliable, immediate way to alter how a person is feeling. The short-term relief provided by alcohol or drugs may become problem for many survivors.
Victims of rape are 13 times more likely to develop 2 or more alcohol-related problems and 26 times more likely to have 2 or more serious drug abuse-related problems (Kilpatrick & Aciemo, 2003). Drugs and alcohol are fast acting, socially accepted, available, and cheap ways to make the symptoms of trauma temporarily go away. The problem is that drugs and alcohol are addictive, meaning people need more and more to maintain the effects, and using drugs and alcohol can increase the risk of experiencing additional violence because many offenders see intoxication as a vulnerability to exploit. If your brother is thinking about or in treatment for addiction, it may be helpful to encourage him to also talk to someone about the abuse he experienced. Often, when sober, the effects of trauma come rushing back to survivors and can lead to relapse.