Sexual assault can have long-term effects on victims in Florida even if they successfully win a lawsuit against the perpetrator. Below are some examples of how sexual assault might affect the victim’s well-being long after the incident.
Mental health issues
Many individuals who experience sexual harassment or sexual assault deal will deal mental health issues. They often experience things like anxiety or depression. This can cause them to miss work or have trouble maintaining relationships. It’s often difficult to overcome these types of issues without therapy.
Low self-esteem
If an individual experiences mental health issues because of a sexual assault, it can affect their self-esteem. They might feel as if they are ugly or that they aren’t worthy of other people loving them. Their low self-esteem may lead to poor decision-making in multiple areas of their life as well.
Feeling as if it was their fault
Unfortunately, a lot of people do blame victims of sexual assault. It’s not uncommon for them to think that the victim must have done something to antagonize the perpetrator. Even though this isn’t true, the victim often feels that it was their fault. They think that they encouraged it because of what they wore, where they went or who they hung out with leading up to the incident.
Many victims suffer from the effects of being sexually assaulted throughout their entire lifetime. They may find that therapy helps, but they often want to go after the perpetrator in order to hold them accountable for their actions. Victims may seek the assistance of an attorney so that they can try to get the justice they deserve.
