The Second Assault by Abigail Wade, MHS
/For many who have lived through interpersonal violence, the harm doesn’t end when the abuse stops. There is the original trauma, and then there is what follows: the impact that persists long after the event itself. I call this the Second Assault. It happens when survivors turn to systems for help and instead encounter disbelief, minimization, or mishandling. It’s not only about being doubted. It is about policies and practices that fail to recognize how trauma interrupts development, fragments memory, alters the brain, and reshapes every way a person moves through the world.
Too often, institutions treat trauma as a single incident, something to “address” and then leave behind. But trauma, especially developmental and interpersonal trauma, can be life-altering. It can derail education, distort relationships, disrupt emotional regulation, and color how a person navigates every environment they enter. The Second Assault occurs when systems ignore this reality, and expect survivors to function as though nothing has fundamentally changed.
I have seen and lived the ways this plays out:
A school punishes a child for “defiance,” overlooking that hypervigilance is part of survival.
A court measures credibility by precise memory, ignoring how trauma shatters recall.
A service provider withdraws support because “progress” is not fast enough.
Each time this happens, harm compounds. Survivors are forced to fit themselves into systems built for people who have never lived through what they have. And when they cannot, they are blamed for their own struggle. The consequences can be profound; reinforcing isolation, deepening shame, and making it harder to trust not only individuals, but society itself. Survivors begin to believe what these systems seem to declare: that the world is not built for them, and maybe never will be.
Preventing the Second Assault requires more than believing survivors. It requires systems that recognize the lifelong imprint of trauma, systems that see healing as a process rather than a product, and that measure success by safety, stability, and dignity, not speed or compliance.
As a society, we cannot change what happened. But we can change what happens next. We can create environments that meet survivors where they are, that honor the ways trauma reshapes a life, and that protect against further harm. The Second Assault is preventable, but only if we are willing to build something better.
For individuals who have experienced interpersonal violence, the effects of harm may continue after the abuse has ended. The initial trauma is followed by ongoing impacts that can persist well beyond the event itself. This subsequent impact—sometimes referred to as the Second Assault—occurs when survivors seek support from systems and encounter disbelief, minimisation, or inadequate responses. These responses are not limited to doubt but also include institutional policies and practices that may not take into account how trauma affects development, memory, brain function, and daily behaviours.
Often, institutions approach trauma as a single event to be resolved, without recognising its potential long-term effects, particularly in cases of developmental and interpersonal trauma. Such trauma can affect education, relationships, emotional regulation, and interactions within environments. The Second Assault arises when systems overlook these realities and expect survivors to operate as if their experiences have not significantly changed them.
Examples of this dynamic include:
A school disciplining a child for perceived defiance without considering that hypervigilance can be a survival response.
A court evaluating credibility based on precise memory, without acknowledging how trauma may disrupt recall.
A service provider discontinuing support due to perceived slow progress.
Each occurrence can compound harm, leading survivors to try to adjust to systems not designed for those with trauma histories. When difficulties arise, responsibility is often shifted to the individual, which may reinforce isolation, increase shame, and reduce trust in both individuals and societal structures. Survivors may internalise the message that existing systems are not meant for them.
Mitigating the Second Assault involves more than acceptance; it requires systemic recognition of trauma’s enduring effects and approaches to healing that prioritise safety, stability, and dignity over speed or compliance. While past events cannot be changed, future responses can be improved. Systems can be designed to accommodate the needs of survivors, recognise the impact of trauma, and work to prevent additional harm. Addressing the Second Assault is possible through intentional efforts to improve support and response mechanisms.
Abigail Wade is a writer, mental health advocate, and survivor of familial sexual exploitation. Her lived experience forms the foundation of ‘Second Assault,’ a deeply personal yet universally resonant account of trauma, survival, and the failures of the systems meant to protect.
Abigail earned her bachelor's degree in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University and recently completed her Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Her graduate studies focused on child victimization and the systemic barriers that prevent survivors from accessing compassionate and effective care.
Her professional and educational experience, alongside her own journey, inform her writing with advocacy insight and a deep commitment to survivor-centered change. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland, and is dedicated to amplifying the voices of those too often silenced.
Her book ‘Second Assault’ will be released in Fall of 2025. To be notified when it is released an interest form can be found here: Second Assault Interest Form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1phrsah8IKnuBIO2zj8iL-Nf_5Z2MdkTHu5CT4cFN-qE/edit
