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VA » Health Care » PTSD: National Center for PTSD » Understand » Types of Trauma » Violence and Abuse

PTSD: National Center for PTSD

Violence and Abuse

“It was like an escalation of abuse over time that continued...”

Jennifer Norris

U.S. Air Force, 1996-2010

Violence and Abuse

PTSD can occur after violence. Abuse or assault may be life-threatening, cause injury and have long-term effects. Learn more about different types of violence and abuse such as military sexual trauma (MST), race-based trauma and violence that occurs in the community.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is defined as any sort of sexual activity between two or more people in which one of the people is involved against their will.

Find out more about sexual assault in:

Females
Get information about sexual assault against females, common reactions, and resources.
Males
Find out about sexual assault against males, common reactions, and resources.
Children
Learn about child sexual abuse, common reactions and resources.
Military Sexual Trauma
Get information and learn about resources for those affected by military sexual trauma.
Rape of Women in a War Zone
Learn about the prevalence and effects of war-related rape of women in a war zone, such as in Kosovo and Bosnia.

Violence

Racial Trauma
Learn about racial trauma and read tips to help actively cope and reduce stress.
Community Violence: Effects on Children and Teens
Learn about community violence and effects on young people and find resources that can help.
Intimate Partner Violence
Find out about the prevalence and effects of domestic violence, the dynamics of abusive relationships, treatment for victims and perpetrators, and resources offering assistance.