Sexual harassment can devastate its victims, destroying their mental health, physical fitness, and emotional well-being. At The Gold Law Firm P.C., our sexual harassment lawyers are dedicated to protecting victims of sexual harassment from their abusers and bringing those guilty parties to justice.
If you or a loved one has dealt with sexual harassment and its repercussions — or if, perhaps, you are dealing with the fallout right now — contact a seasoned lawyer who can help guide you through the legal aftermath. You are not alone.
How Does Sexual Harassment Affect Mental Health?
Sexual harassment can profoundly and permanently scar its victims’ mental health, inducing a range of psychological issues like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Victims have expressed unwillingness to put themselves in situations that remind them of the abuse, take part in pastimes they previously found enjoyable, or open up about the circumstances that led to their trauma. In addition, victims of sexual harassment have reported an acute sense of shame, guilt, and low self-esteem that required professional counseling and therapy to handle.
What Are the Physical Health Consequences?
Victims of abuse have also dealt with the impact on their physical health and fitness: in some cases, the chronic stress of the aftermath has led to headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and sleep disturbances. On occasion, these cases have developed into more severe conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease — which has escalated in cases where the harassment continued unchecked.
How Does Sexual Harassment Impact Career and Professional Life?
These personal consequences of sexual harassment can bleed into a victim’s professional life. If the abuse occurs outside of the workplace, victims can feel a lack of motivation and drive at work, resulting in worse job satisfaction, lower productivity, and increased absenteeism.
However, in cases where harassment occurs in the workplace, many victims have felt forced to leave their jobs to escape the situation, derailing their career progress and subjecting themselves to financial instability and potential employment gaps.
What Are the Social Effects of Sexual Harassment?
Lastly, the impact of sexual harassment on a victim’s social life and friendship circle can lead to feelings of isolation and mistrust, especially when the incident is kept under wraps. As they attempt to cope with the emotional fallout of their experience, the victim’s relationships with friends and family can suffer, further compounding any stress, depression, and anxiety.
How Can Victims Seek Help and Support?
Support systems, both personal and professional, play critical roles in helping victims of sexual harassment recover from the incident. Mental health services, such as therapy and counseling, can offer emotional support and practical coping strategies — romantic partners or immediate family members can offer personal comfort.
Find Legal Support With the Philadelphia Sexual Harassment Lawyers at The Gold Law Firm P.C.
If you or a loved one suffered from sexual harassment and are dealing with the emotional fallout of the incident, and you feel ready to file a lawsuit to seek justice, contact the experienced and compassionate Philadelphia sexual harassment lawyers at The Gold Law Firm P.C. Call us at 215-569-1999 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation. Our offices in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey stand ready to help those located throughout South Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Lehigh County, Montgomery County, and Cherry Hill.
