Victims of sexual harassment often experience severe mental trauma. As a result, it becomes challenging for them to recover from those incidents. Usually, their psychological well-being is at stake, and they suffer from some serious mental health issues. In addition, sometimes the victims are scared to lose their job or are bound by societal pressure and do not share these experiences with anyone, which affects their mental state more.
If you are a victim of sexual assault, do not hesitate to reach out to a Sexual Harassment Attorney, as they will help you get the justice you deserve.
Here are some effects of sexual harassment on a person’s mental health.
- Depression or denial
Often it is tough for a sexual harassment victims to accept that something so terrible has happened to them. As a result, they tend to look at themselves poorly and blame themselves for the incident. This type of behavior leads to symptoms of depression and anxiety. The person may not feel excited or happy to do things they liked before, and they can lack motivation and feel hopeless about life and withdraw socially.
The symptoms include excessive irritability, restlessness, panic attacks, fatigue, overthinking, insecurity, and suicidal thoughts.
- PTSD- Post Traumatic Stree Disorder
The inability to cope with sexual harassment or stress can trigger extreme emotions. The victim might lean onto self-harming behaviors to escape the traumatic memories. People who suffer from sexual assault or mental trauma tend to indulge in substance abuse like alcohol and drugs.
Mental disorders like depression, anxiety, and PTSD can throw a person on the verge of consuming harmful substances. Unfortunately, patients dealing with such illnesses often find an escape from these substances and later become addicts.
PTSD symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and hyper-reactivity make it difficult for the victims to forget the sexual abuse, leading to other mental disorders like bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, paranoia, apathy, schizophrenia, etc.
If these symptoms are identified and treated at the right time, it can save the victim’s life. So ensure that they get the correct help through therapies and medication to stabilize their condition. Another vital factor that degrades the victim’s mental health is their acceptance of the sexual abuse and reaching out to people.
Remember that sexual harassment is a serious crime, and the court must punish the harasser at all costs. Ensure you contact an excellent sexual harassment attorney who will help you file a complaint against the harasser and ensure you are served proper justice.
