Addictions and Sexual Assault
by Tersia Smith
Sexual assault affects so many people; however, a majority of sexual assaults are not ever reported to the police. While most perpetrators will not suffer consequences of their actions, survivors can feel their life is held captive by the effects of this trauma, unsure how to break free and return to a normal life. Sexual assault can take a toll on one’s mental health. Depression, flashbacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common among survivors. Victims of sexual abuse are three times more likely than the average person to suffer from depression, and six times more likely to suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder.