| The estimated risk for rape survivors developing post | | | | reappear later in life. This can make it difficult to |
| traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is 49%. The risk for | | | | recognize when PTSD is occurring, as survivors may |
| those beaten or experiencing physical assault is 31.9%, | | | | not associate their current feeling and behaviours with |
| whilst the risk for others who experienced sexual | | | | pas events.Each time symptoms appear, however, |
| assault is 23.7%. Given these figures, it is no wonder | | | | they provide an opportunity for healing. Post traumatic |
| women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, as | | | | stress disorder can be treated, using a combination of |
| they are statistically significantly more likely to | | | | medication and psychotherapy.Whilst medications |
| experience sexual assault.Post traumatic stress | | | | were not thought to help in the treatment of PTSD in |
| disorder is characterized by intense fear, a sense of | | | | the past, they have been found to be beneficial now, |
| helplessness, or horror. It can affect all areas of a | | | | probably due to newer ones being available. The |
| person's life, their emotions, mental wellbeing, and | | | | SSRI's (selective serotonin uptake inhibitors) zoloft and |
| physical health. And symptoms are generally worse in | | | | paxil are both approved by the FDA for treating |
| situations, like rape and abuse, where the trauma was | | | | PTSD. And newer antidepressants like effexor and |
| deliberately initiated against those involved.A person | | | | serzone are also beneficial, and tend to be used when |
| with post traumatic stress disorder may re-live the | | | | the patient does not tolerate paxil and zoloft, or those |
| traumatic events, having flashbacks or other reminders | | | | medications aren't effective.There are 3 types of |
| and images that intrude on their waking hours, or in | | | | psychotherapy that can be used to treat PTSD. |
| dreams and nightmares. These reminders may also | | | | These are exposure management, cognitive therapy, |
| trigger physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations or | | | | and anxiety management. A combination of all 3 may |
| chills. Or emotional problems, like anxiety, depression, | | | | be used, or one individually. Each person is different in |
| and dread.People with post traumatic stress disorder | | | | what they will respond to.In exposure therapy, patients |
| may avoid any reminders of the trauma, whether that | | | | confront, in a safe therapeutic environment, the |
| is people associated with the experience, or places, or | | | | situations, people, and memories associated with the |
| even thoughts of the trauma. They can distance | | | | trauma. People with PTSD usually avoid this very thing, |
| themselves from family and friends, and withdraw | | | | but by working through the trauma in this way, |
| from everyday activities and things they used to | | | | exposure therapy is actually very effective at healing |
| enjoy.Relationship problems are common for survivors | | | | PTSD.Cognitive therapy helps in the process of |
| of rape and sexual abuse. Some survivors avoid | | | | understanding how our thoughts affect our feelings, |
| intimacy, others avoid sex, and some avoid both, and | | | | and provides ways of shifting negative thinking. |
| create patterns in their lives where those coping | | | | Negative thinking can perpetuate a mental prison |
| mechanisms are maintained. But sufferers of PTSD | | | | where joy and interconnectedness is no longer felt. |
| who did not experience any sexual abuse can also | | | | Changing those dynamics can provide a new |
| have problems in their relationships, or in social | | | | framework with which to process the trauma, and |
| situations.Another characteristic of post traumatic | | | | allow healing to occur.In anxiety management, skills are |
| stress disorder is being on guard all the time, and | | | | learnt that help one cope better with the symptoms |
| suddenly feeling anger or irritability. There can be | | | | and triggers of post traumatic stress disorder. They |
| problems with sleeping and concentrating, and | | | | can help reduce the intensity of the symptoms, though |
| sufferers may be startled easily. Self destructive | | | | they need to be practised to be effective. Anxiety |
| behaviours, such as gambling, risky sex, drug use, | | | | management techniques can be very helpful in |
| alcohol abuse, or other problems like dangerous driving, | | | | controlling anxiety whilst doing exposure therapy. |
| may be present. Depression, disassociation, or other | | | | Some techniques used include relaxation, breathing |
| mental health problems can develop.Not all of these | | | | techniques, assertiveness training, and positive thinking |
| characteristics may be present in PTSD, and the | | | | and self talk.References:1. ptsdalliance.org |
| degree to which one experiences them may vary | | | | about_what.html2. ptsd.factsforhealth.org |
| also. And PTSD may not develop until months or | | | | whatmeds.html3. nimh.nih.gov/publicat/anxiety.cfmFor |
| years after the trauma. Particularly in relation to abuse | | | | more articles on anxiety and depression, click here. |
| in childhood, symptoms of PTSD can pass, then | | | | |