Sexual Assault | Student Health and Counseling Services

What Is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault is an umbrella term used to describe any unwanted sex act. If any of the following are attempted or completed without consent, a sexual assault has occurred:

·      Vaginal sex
·      Anal sex
·      Oral sex
·      Touching of the breasts, buttocks, or genitals (over clothes or skin-to-skin)
·      Penetration with a foreign object (i.e., fingers, sex toys, etc.)

Survivors of sexual assault are diverse with regard to gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, ability, and all other individual identities. While sexual assault can happen to anyone, folks within marginalized communities tend to be disproportionately affected by violence and abuse.

Most sexual assault survivors know the perpetrator, and sexual assault can be committed by anyone: a friend, acquaintance, family member, spouse date or stranger.

Sexual assault is never the survivor’s fault – even if they were intoxicated by drugs or alcohol when the assault took place.

While being under the influence at the time of of the assault may inhibit survivors from reporting, know that any disclosure of voluntary use of drugs or alcohol by the survivor or the witness will not be used to punish the survivor or any witnesses.

Please visit the UC Davis Sexual Violence website to learn more about UC Davis’ policy on sexual assault.

Get Help

Confidential vs. Non-Confidential Resources at SHCS

Confidential Resources: These resources are not required to report incidents of sexual violence or harassment to the university. See list of confidential (and other) resources on and off campus at the bottom of this page.

Non-Confidential Resources: These resources are required to report instances of sexual violence or harassment to the university.

Mental health providers at SHCS are confidential resources and are NOT mandated reporters. For same-day access to a confidential mental health provider, please call (530) 752-2349 to talk with an Advice Nurse, and ask to speak with a mental health professional.

All medical providers in California – including nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians at SHCS – are mandated reporters when physical signs of domestic violence and physical assault are present. If you wish to keep the sexual assault private, you may tell the medical assistant, nurse or provider that you wish to discuss your concerns more fully with a mental health provider only. You will then be referred to Counseling Services – a confidential resource on campus that does not have the same reporting requirements.

Though medical providers at SHCS are mandated reporters, they are available to provide the essential assessment and treatment when you need medical care. Every effort is made to help support and protect your safety when reporting.

Reacting to Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is a traumatic event, and we all handle trauma in different ways. Though each person and situation is unique, the following list summarizes the range of reactions to sexual assault that may help you know what's common for a survivor to experience.

Emotional Shock: I feel so numb. Why am I so calm? Why can't I cry?
Disbelief: Did it really happen? Why me? Maybe I just made it up.
Embarrassment: What will people think? I can't tell my family or friends.
Shame: I feel dirty, like there is something wrong with me. I want to wash my hands or shower all the time.
Guilt: I feel as if it's my fault, or I did something to make this happen.
Depression: How am I going to get through this semester? I'm so tired. I feel so helpless. Maybe I'd be better off dead.
Powerlessness: Will I ever feel in control again?
Disorientation: I don't even know what day it is, or what class I'm supposed to be in. I can't remember my appointments. I keep forgetting things.
Triggers: I keep having flashbacks. I'm still re-living it. I see their face all the time.
Denial: It wasn't really a "rape."
Fear: I'm scared of everything. What if I'm pregnant? Could I get an STI/HIV? How can I ever feel safe again? Do people realize there's anything wrong? I can't sleep because I know I'll have nightmares. I'm afraid I'm going crazy. I'm afraid to go outside. I'm afraid to be alone.
Anxiety: I'm having panic attacks. I can't breathe! I just can't stop shaking. I can't sit still in class anymore. I feel overwhelmed.
Anger: I want to kill the person who attacked me!
Physical Stress: My stomach (or head or back) aches all the time. I feel jittery and don't feel like eating.

It is important for you to know that any of these reactions are common and temporary to an abnormal event. The fear and confusion will lessen with time, but the trauma may disrupt your life for a while. Some reactions may be triggered by people, places or things connected to the assault, while other reactions may seem to come out of nowhere.

Remember that no matter how much difficulty you're experiencing by dealing with the assault, it does not mean there is something wrong with you. The recovery process may actually help you develop strengths, insights, and abilities that you never had – or never knew you had -- before.

Talking about the assault will help you feel better, but it also may be really hard to do. In fact, it's common to want to avoid conversations and situations that may remind you of the assault. You may have a sense of wanting to "get on with life" and "let the past be the past." This is a normal part of the recovery process and may last for weeks or months.

Eventually you may want to deal with fears and feelings in order to heal and regain a sense of control over your life. Talking with someone who can listen in understanding and affirming ways, whether it's a friend, family member, hotline staff member or counselor, is a key part of this process.

Coping with Sexual Assault

Know that the assault was not, in any way, your fault.
Get support from friends and family. Try to identify people you trust to validate your feelings and affirm your strengths.
Talk about the assault and express feelings: Choose when, where, and with whom to talk about the assault, and set limits by only disclosing information that feels safe for you to reveal.
Use stress reduction techniques: Hard exercise like jogging, aerobics, walking; relaxation techniques like yoga, massage, music, hot baths; prayer and/or meditation.
Maintain a balanced diet and sleep cycle as much as possible and avoid overusing stimulants like caffeine, sugar, and nicotine.
Discover your playful and creative "self." Playing and creativity are important for healing from hurt. Find time for noncompetitive play-start or resume a creative activity like piano, painting, gardening, handicrafts, etc.
Take "time outs." Give yourself permission to take quiet moments to reflect, relax and rejuvenate-especially during times you feel stressed or unsafe.
Try reading: Reading can be a relaxing, healing activity. Try to find short periods of uninterrupted leisure reading time.
Consider writing or keeping a journal as a way of expressing thoughts and feelings.
Release some of the hurt and anger in a healthy way: Write a letter to your attacker about how you feel about what happened to you. Be as specific as you can. You can choose to send the letter or not. You also can draw pictures about the anger you feel for your attacker as a way of releasing the emotional pain.
Seek counseling