If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault:

• Get to a safe place.
• Call 9-1-1 immediately to report the assault.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
• Do NOT shower, bathe, or douche.
• Do NOT change clothing.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Call Pearl Crisis Center at
800.933-6914

Sexual Assault Information:

A sexual assault has more than just immediate, physical consequences. Many of the effects are long-term, emotional, and psychological effects. In fact, many survivors of Sexual Assault carry 'emotional scarring' for the rest of their lives. Some of these effects can be - but are not limited to - the following:

• Denial
• Anxiety
• Numbness
• Helplessness
• Anger
• Self-Blame
• Shame
• Nightmares
• Guilt

• Promiscuity
• Fear
• Difficulty with Intimacy
• Crisis of Faith
• Difficulty trusting themselves and others
• Loneliness
• Mood Swings
• Depression

Sexual Assault is one of the most common causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.). The chances that a victim will develop P.T.S.D. after an assault are between 50 - 90 percent.
(Population Information Program, 2000)

Non-Contact and Contact Sexual Abuse:

Non-Contact Sexual Assault may not involve touching, but can be obscene phone calls, exposure, and jokes,  peeping, sexting, and unwanted sexual advances.

There are two kinds of Contact Sexual Abuse:
Manipulative and Aggressive.

Manipulative Sexual Assault may be touching which appears hostile and which has been psychologically (not forcefully) imposed, such as unwanted hugs, kisses, tickling, or pinching, french kissing, and masturbation.

Aggressive Sexual Abuse may include - but is not limited to - when someone is physically forced to participate in oral, vaginal or anal rape, sexual bondage, or sexual maiming.