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OPINION
| October 3, 2003
Guest Column
Life after Tragedy
Rape can change a person’s
life but doesn’t have to end it
Rape.
How does it happen? — there are as many scenarios as victims.
With the right professional help such as a rape crisis center, supportive
family and friends, some victims find help and recover well —
but, they are forever changed. The following story is a true account.
The names have been withheld due to the sensitive nature of the
issue.
Imagine two female college students, Susan and Mary, preparing to
spend a Saturday night partying with friends after an exhausting
week of classes.
Susan arrives at Mary’s apartment — a party was already
in full swing — music and alcohol continued to flow. Near
midnight, the group decided to go clubbing, but Susan felt ill as
they climbed into the car.
The plans changed and everyone went back inside, but Mary hastily
ran into the bathroom.
Susan followed her inside and knocked on the master bedroom door,
but didn’t get a response. As the room started spinning, Susan
sat on the floor and passed out.
In a dream-like state, Susan felt the drawstrings of her pants being
untied followed by the pressure of weight on her body — it’s
the last thing she remembers before waking the next morning to find
herself in a spare bedroom.
Suffering from a hangover, Susan managed to drive home. When she
had recovered enough to think straight, she grew alarmed at what
she remembered happening. Then she told the story to her roommate.
Susan’s roommate confirmed her fears as Susan’s stomach
churned — when her roommate said, “you could have been
raped” — the thought of it possibly happening to her
made Susan throw up — she never thought this could happen
to her.
After many tears, they called a rape crisis center.
Rape victims experience emotions ranging from shock and anger to
depression and confusion, according to experts.
In the week following the rape, Susan withdrew from classes and
moved home with her family. She withdrew from her friends. Nothing
seemed to matter to her anymore.
Susan enrolled at a community college for the following semester,
but her grades rapidly slipped, she lost some of her friends and
she gained weight. A psychologist diagnosed Susan’s problems
as post traumatic stress disorder.
During the first stages of the investigation into the rape, the
guilty person “confessed,” while saying it was consensual.
A year after the rape, the attacker was convicted of sexual assault
and registered as a sex offender.
Four years after the rape, Susan is happier but still has difficulty
building relationships with men.
A psychologist and a rape crisis center along with support from
friends and family helped her put her life back together. Susan
was able to move away from her support group and attend a university.
Though she lives with the memory of her experience, she moves forward.
As she walks the UTA campus, she is reminded of how far she has
come and looks forward to graduation.
There is life after rape — but it’s a hard journey.
— Natellie Ackland is a psychology senior.
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