Sexuality: facts and tips / What is sexual arousal - and how do I deal with it?:

It can happen that a sexual experience was not at all pleasant for you. However, your body may have been sexually aroused, which is likely to irritate you. Read this text to find out how this can happen.

Why was I sexually aroused during an assault?

It may be that a sexual experience is not at all pleasant for you. And yet you are sexually aroused. If you have a vagina, you may get wet. If you have a penis, you may get an erection. Perhaps your arousal builds up to discharge and ejaculation. There is a simple explanation for this: sexual arousal starts with a reflex in your body that you cannot consciously control. It can also be triggered by strong, unpleasant feelings, such as great fear. You are then very tense. This tension can cause sexual arousal to increase more quickly until it is released.

Does that mean that I wanted to have sex?

No. Again, anxiety and tension can trigger your sexual arousal and increase it to the point of discharge. We specifically write discharge here and not orgasm. Discharge means that your physical sexual arousal has reached a climax. During an orgasm, you combine this discharge with a beautiful, pleasant, pleasurable emotional experience. You feel great. You did not have this pleasant experience during the assault. Physically you may have felt good, but mentally you felt really bad.

"You wanted it"

Many perpetrators justify their assaults in all sorts of ways. Among other things, they use your sexual arousal as justification. "You asked for it," you'll hear. Don't let this make you feel insecure. Your sexual arousal was a physical response, not a personal need. Make sure you differentiate between what is happening physically and what you want.