Common Reactions of Male Survivors of Sexual Assault
Boys and men often experience some of the same reactions to being sexually assaulted as girls and women do. For example, they may experience:
- Denial and/or guilt
- Shame or humiliation
- Fear and a feeling of loss of control
- Powerlessness
- Loss of self-respect
- Flashbacks
- Anger and anxiety
- Nervous or compulsive behavior
- Depression and mood swings
- Withdrawal from relationships
- Changes in sexual activity
- Substance abuse
- Self-injurious behavior
- Hyper vigilance
- Sleep disturbances and nightmares
- Eating disorders
Some reactions can be somewhat unique to male survivors.
- Male Survivors may feel embarrassed and avoid talking about the abuse or seeking support.
- Male Survivors often feel very isolated.
- Male Survivors may feel that they will not be believed.
- Male survivors may have feelings of inadequacy and shame about their gender.
- If a male victim had an erection or reached orgasm they may have a hard time viewing the experience as abusive or non-consensual.
- Male Survivors may feel that if they talk about the abuse, they will be perceived as being gay.
- Male Survivors who were abused by females might believe that something is wrong with them if they didn’t enjoy the experience.
- Male Survivors often become confused, questioning their sexual orientation and their notion of masculinity.
- Male Survivors often feel that they should have been able to stop the abuse or that they are to blame for the abuse.
- Male Survivors might have a hard time expressing some of the intense emotions that follow an assault.
- Male survivors may be more apt to minimize the effects of the abuse and push themselves to forget it and move on.
SVC provides services to people of all genders and offers services specifically for men. We offer support groups for male victim/survivors in a safe and supportive environment. A male counselor can also be requested for 1:1 counseling.
