| The estimated risk for rape survivors
| |
| | relation to abuse in childhood, symptoms
|
| developing post traumatic stress disorder
| |
| | of PTSD can pass, then reappear later in
|
| (PTSD) is 49%. The risk for those beaten
| |
| | life. This can make it difficult to
|
| or experiencing physical assault is
| |
| | recognize when PTSD is occurring, as
|
| 31.9%, whilst the risk for others who
| |
| | survivors may not associate their current
|
| experienced sexual assault is 23.7%.
| |
| | feeling and behaviours with pas events.
|
| Given these figures, it is no wonder
| |
| | Each time symptoms appear, however, they
|
| women are more likely to develop PTSD
| |
| | provide an opportunity for healing. Post
|
| than men, as they are statistically
| |
| | traumatic stress disorder can be treated,
|
| significantly more likely to experience
| |
| | using a combination of medication and
|
| sexual assault.
| |
| | psychotherapy.
|
| Post traumatic stress disorder is
| |
| | Whilst medications were not thought to
|
| characterized by intense fear, a sense of
| |
| | help in the treatment of PTSD in the
|
| helplessness, or horror. It can affect
| |
| | past, they have been found to be
|
| all areas of a person's life, their
| |
| | beneficial now, probably due to newer
|
| emotions, mental wellbeing, and physical
| |
| | ones being available. The SSRI's
|
| health. And symptoms are generally worse
| |
| | (selective serotonin uptake inhibitors)
|
| in situations, like rape and abuse, where
| |
| | zoloft and paxil are both approved by the
|
| the trauma was deliberately initiated
| |
| | FDA for treating PTSD. And newer
|
| against those involved.
| |
| | antidepressants like effexor and serzone
|
| A person with post traumatic stress
| |
| | are also beneficial, and tend to be used
|
| disorder may re-live the traumatic
| |
| | when the patient does not tolerate paxil
|
| events, having flashbacks or other
| |
| | and zoloft, or those medications aren't
|
| reminders and images that intrude on
| |
| | effective.
|
| their waking hours, or in dreams and
| |
| | There are 3 types of psychotherapy that
|
| nightmares. These reminders may also
| |
| | can be used to treat PTSD. These are
|
| trigger physical symptoms, such as heart
| |
| | exposure management, cognitive therapy,
|
| palpitations or chills. Or emotional
| |
| | and anxiety management. A combination of
|
| problems, like anxiety, depression, and
| |
| | all 3 may be used, or one individually.
|
| dread.
| |
| | Each person is different in what they
|
| People with post traumatic stress
| |
| | will respond to.
|
| disorder may avoid any reminders of the
| |
| | In exposure therapy, patients confront,
|
| trauma, whether that is people associated
| |
| | in a safe therapeutic environment, the
|
| with the experience, or places, or even
| |
| | situations, people, and memories
|
| thoughts of the trauma. They can distance
| |
| | associated with the trauma. People with
|
| themselves from family and friends, and
| |
| | PTSD usually avoid this very thing, but
|
| withdraw from everyday activities and
| |
| | by working through the trauma in this
|
| things they used to enjoy.
| |
| | way, exposure therapy is actually very
|
| Relationship problems are common for
| |
| | effective at healing PTSD.
|
| survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Some
| |
| | Cognitive therapy helps in the process of
|
| survivors avoid intimacy, others avoid
| |
| | understanding how our thoughts affect our
|
| sex, and some avoid both, and create
| |
| | feelings, and provides ways of shifting
|
| patterns in their lives where those
| |
| | negative thinking. Negative thinking can
|
| coping mechanisms are maintained. But
| |
| | perpetuate a mental prison where joy and
|
| sufferers of PTSD who did not experience
| |
| | interconnectedness is no longer felt.
|
| any sexual abuse can also have problems
| |
| | Changing those dynamics can provide a new
|
| in their relationships, or in social
| |
| | framework with which to process the
|
| situations.
| |
| | trauma, and allow healing to occur.
|
| Another characteristic of post traumatic
| |
| | In anxiety management, skills are learnt
|
| stress disorder is being on guard all the
| |
| | that help one cope better with the
|
| time, and suddenly feeling anger or
| |
| | symptoms and triggers of post traumatic
|
| irritability. There can be problems with
| |
| | stress disorder. They can help reduce the
|
| sleeping and concentrating, and sufferers
| |
| | intensity of the symptoms, though they
|
| may be startled easily. Self destructive
| |
| | need to be practised to be effective.
|
| behaviours, such as gambling, risky sex,
| |
| | Anxiety management techniques can be very
|
| drug use, alcohol abuse, or other
| |
| | helpful in controlling anxiety whilst
|
| problems like dangerous driving, may be
| |
| | doing exposure therapy. Some techniques
|
| present. Depression, disassociation, or
| |
| | used include relaxation, breathing
|
| other mental health problems can develop.
| |
| | techniques, assertiveness training, and
|
| Not all of these characteristics may be
| |
| | positive thinking and self talk.
|
| present in PTSD, and the degree to which
| |
| | References:
|
| one experiences them may vary also. And
| |
| | 1. ptsdalliance.org/about_what.html
|
| PTSD may not develop until months or
| |
| | 2. ptsd.factsforhealth.org/whatmeds.html
|
| years after the trauma. Particularly in
| |
| | 3. nimh.nih.gov/publicat/anxiety.
|
