"I just became like a log of wood … I was paralyzed all over my body": women's lived experiences of tonic immobility following rape

Abstract

Tonic immobility is considered the last involuntary self-protecting act/mechanism experienced by victims of rape when they are under attack. It is associated with trauma related mental health risks post-rape. Despite this, tonic immobility has not received priority as an area of research on Nigerian female victims of rape. As a result, little has been known about this phenomenon by nurses and other professionals who are involved in the care and management of rape survivors in Nigeria. The limited knowledge about tonic immobility as a phenomenon might have resulted in mismanagement and secondary victimization of rape victims experiencing manifestations suggestive of tonic immobility during or after rape. This study was a qualitative narrative inquiry that explored, analysed, and interpreted the lived experiences suggestive of tonic immobility, and the meaning attached to such experiences by victims. A sample of fourteen Nigerian women who self-identified as rape victims was utilized. Individual semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted to generate data. Thematic data analysis revealed four overarching themes: namely (i) Tonic immobility as an Altered Physical State, (ii) Tonic Immobility as Mental Paralysis, (iii) Painful Loss of Self-defence, and (iv) Constant Self-blame. The findings provided an insight into the traumatic experience of raped women and the psychological implication of tonic immobility as extreme defence mechanism. This study will prove invaluable to nurses and other professionals/stakeholders involved in the care and management of rape victims; to help them develop and use appropriate strategies for management and prevention of secondary victimisation.