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