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A Place For You
A Healing Haven for Rape and Abuse Survivors
Mental Disorders
There are a host of mental conditions that can result from a traumatic experience. I certainly can't cover them all. I will however try to cover the main disorders. For more information visit a mental heath professional.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
During a traumatic experience and anywhere from days to months after the trauma a victim will suffer from various symptoms. PTSD is usually diagnosed when a victim's symptoms persist for an extended period of time after a traumatic experience. Some symptoms of PTSD are flashbacks, nightmares, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, exaggerated startle response, and anxiety. There are many more symptoms involved in the diagnosis. You do not need to experience all of these symptoms to have PTSD. If untreated these symptoms will persist and likely worsen over time. It is important that you seek professional help of you think that you may have PTSD. This is a treatable condition.
Anxiety / Panic Disorder
Anxiety can be thought of as extreme stress. It is one of the
main responses to trauma. Symptoms of anxiety are excessive worry, fears, avoidance, or a sense of apprehension of danger, or dread, accompanied by nervous restlessness, tension,
increased heart rate, and shortness of breath unrelated to a clearly identifiable stimulus. .
Panic Disorder is when you have attacks of panic brought on by extreme anxiety/stress. A panic attack can be described as a brief, irrational episode of fear that is perceived as
so real that an individual may be driven to escape from the place or situation where it occurs. The attack is sudden and increases in severity until it leaves, usually within ten
minutes. Panic attack symptoms are numerous and involve both mental and physical signs and symptoms. A panic attack can occur in other anxiety states such as agoraphobia and with certain
activities and places. It may occur spontaneously without an apparent cause. Some symptoms of a panic attack include rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, being easily startled, sweating,
and an inability to relax.
Depression
Depression is very common among survivors. Some symptoms of depression include inability to remember the good parts of your day, feeling discouraged about the future, feeling worthless, feeling hopeless, loss of appetite, inability to sleep or sleeping too much, and a general and consistent feeling of sadness.
Sexual Dysfunction
Survivors of trauma (especially rape) tend to experience changes in their feelings toward sex. The feelings and attitudes can last for a brief or long period of time. The feelings can be anywhere from a desire to have sex with many partners without thought of the consequences to a complete lack of interest in sexual activity. Those who experience the first extreme can be attempting to minimize the importance of sex or they no longer value themselves and their sexuality due to feelings of worthlessness and lack of self-esteem. Those who experience the second extreme can be due to experiencing flashbacks during sex, loss of enjoyment, loss of arousal, and an inability to relax during sex. Many also decide to have sex with the opposite sex of the person who attacked them. This is usually due to a loss of trust and feeling that the opposite of the person who attacked them is safer.
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