currentsinbiology: Many rape victims experience involuntary paralysis that prevents them from resist

currentsinbiology:Many rape victims experience involuntary paralysis that prevents them from resisting Active resistance is often considered to be the “normal” reaction during rape, but a new study found that most victims may experience a state of involuntary paralysis, called tonic immobility, during rape. Tonic immobility was also associated with subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe depression after rape. The findings, which are published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, indicate that for health care follow-up and legal matters, tonic immobility should be assessed in all sexual assault victims.Tonic immobility in animals is considered an evolutionary adaptive defensive reaction to a predatory attack when resistance is not possible and other resources are not available. Little is known about tonic immobility in humans, however. To investigate, Anna Möller, MD, PhD, of the Karolinksa Institutet and the Stockholm South General Hospital in Sweden, and her colleagues assessed tonic immobility at the time of assault in 298 women who had visited the Emergency Clinic for Rape Victims in Stockholm within one month of a sexual assault. After 6 months, 189 women were assessed for the development of PTSD and depression.Of the 298 women, 70% reported significant tonic immobility and 48% reported extreme tonic immobility during the assault. Among the 189 women who completed the 6-month assessment, 38.1% had developed PTSD and 22.2% had developed severe depression. Tonic immobility was associated with a 2.75-times increased risk of developing PTSD and a 3.42-times increased risk of developing severe depression. Prior trauma and a history of psychiatric treatment were also linked with tonic immobility.“The present study shows that tonic immobility is more common than earlier described,” said Dr. Möller. “This information is useful both in legal situations and in the psychoeducation of rape victims. Further, this knowledge can be applied in the education of medical students and law students.”                           “Tonic immobility during sexual assault - a common reaction predicting posttraumatic stress disorder and severe depression.” Anna Möller, Hans Peter Söndergaard, and Lotti Helström. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica; Published Online: June 7, 2017, DOI: 10.1111/aogs.13174  Please consider sharing this even if you haven’t personally experienced it. This is NOT common knowledge, and leads to victims of sexual assault experiencing further trauma and mental illness. It is unspeakably cruel to blame rape victims for not fighting back, for many physically cannot. There becomes a point where your body overrides your mind. It doesn’t matter what kind of self defense courses you might have taken, that muscle memory don’t mean shit when your muscles don’t work. And once you’ve been traumatized like this, your body is MORE likely to do this the next time. So if you’ve been raped once and experience tonic immobility, expect that your body will do this if you’re ever raped again. I shared this on my Facebook and friends and family are coming out of the woodwork, sharing their stories, and saying this happened to them. My SIL pointed out that it makes biological sense, fighting back escalates the situation, and when you’re already overpowered your goal is just to survive.In our society, victims are assaulted and then blamed for the assault. Too many suffer in silence.Actual safety tips/things to knowStay aware and alert of your environment.Know where other people are in physical proximity to you.Don’t ever accept drinks from other people. I don’t care if it looks like water, refuse that shit. Ideally don’t drink anything at all so your drink cannot be drugged. My BFF was drugged by the bartender.Always wear shoes you can sprint inIf you are in a room, know where the door is, and if there’s someone blocking you from the door or not. This is something to pay attention to at parties. Trust your intuition. If something doesn’t feel quite right, if a person doesn’t feel quite right, GTFO. Statistically speaking, you are mostly likely to be raped by someone you already know in some capacity. Someone you like or know. It could be someone you’re dating or your crush or that guy in your class.Your friends will likely not help you. Your rapist will separate you from your friends. It doesn’t actually take that long to be raped. Depends, of course. But what I’m saying is that you can be pulled away from your friends, raped, and return to them before they’ve figured out that anything is going on. Do you see the pattern? Your friends cannot be relied upon for your personal safety, no matter how much they love and care about you.When you are raped, you may not only be incapable of moving your body, you may not be able to scream. -- source link

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