Brief overview of how experience(s) of harm may impact a survivor both short and long term.


Video created by Brianna Ashmen (RU Class 2021) as a piece of the SCREAM Theater (TM) Project and on behalf of RU VPVA


Long and Short Term Impacts on Survivors
Any type of violence along the continuum of interpersonal violence can have lasting effects on survivors. Trauma stays within the body and can present in many different ways, at all different times in a person’s life. Everyone experiences and responds to their trauma differently. Someone may have experienced violence first hand or witnessed violence occurring to someone else. They may have had an isolated experience with interpersonal violence, or experienced it many times. There is no “right” or “wrong” way for someone to act.

Short Term Effects
- Physical injuries or ailments
- Unwanted pregnancy from a sexual assault
- Difficulty paying attention during school or work
- Decrease in grades or productivity
- Mental health issues (anxiety, depression)
- Flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks
- Potential loss of family or friends
- Increase in suicidal ideations
- Hypervigilance

Long Term Effects
- Low self-esteem
- Loss of trust in others (most likely within their immediate circle)
- Loss of trust in “the system”
- PTSD
- Intimacy issues
- Lies and social isolation, either by force of the abuser or by choice to avoid “outsiders” learning the truth
- Unhealthy coping mechanisms (self-harm, substance use)
- Re-occurrence of violence with a new partner
- Homelessness
- Unhealthy attitudes about sex and relationships
- Unable to identify and establish healthy boundaries