There are so many different side effects to being a survivor of sexual abuse and the effects are as varied as the people involved. One of these effects which I'm going to touch on a little bit in this post is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is a debilitating disorder that greatly affects one's emotional, mental and physical health.
Some of the signs and symptoms of PTSD can include:
- Re-experiencing the traumatic event
- Avoiding reminders of the trauma
- Increased anxiety and emotional arousal
Symptoms of PTSD: Re-experiencing the traumatic event
- Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event
- Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)
- Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things)
- Feelings of intense distress when reminded of the trauma
- Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g. pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)
Symptoms of PTSD: Avoidance and numbing
- Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind you of the trauma
- Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma
- Loss of interest in activities and life in general
- Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb
- Sense of a limited future (you don’t expect to live a normal life span, get married, have a career)
Symptoms of PTSD: Increased anxiety and emotional arousal
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Irritability or outbursts of anger
- Difficulty concentrating
- Hypervigilance (on constant “red alert”)
- Feeling jumpy and easily startled
Other common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anger and irritability
- Guilt, shame, or self-blame
- Substance abuse
- Feelings of mistrust and betrayal
- Depression and hopelessness
- Suicidal thoughts and feelings
- Re-experiencing the traumatic event
- Avoiding reminders of the trauma
- Increased anxiety and emotional arousal
Symptoms of PTSD: Re-experiencing the traumatic event
- Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event
- Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)
- Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things)
- Feelings of intense distress when reminded of the trauma
- Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g. pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)
Symptoms of PTSD: Avoidance and numbing
- Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind you of the trauma
- Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma
- Loss of interest in activities and life in general
- Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb
- Sense of a limited future (you don’t expect to live a normal life span, get married, have a career)
Symptoms of PTSD: Increased anxiety and emotional arousal
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Irritability or outbursts of anger
- Difficulty concentrating
- Hypervigilance (on constant “red alert”)
- Feeling jumpy and easily startled
Other common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anger and irritability
- Guilt, shame, or self-blame
- Substance abuse
- Feelings of mistrust and betrayal
- Depression and hopelessness
- Suicidal thoughts and feelings
- Feeling alienated and alone
- Physical aches and pains
WHERE TO FIND HELP IN NAMIBIA* PEACE www.peace.org.na is an organization that assists people overcome the negative impact of all forms of violence and other events that may result in trauma.* LifeLine-ChildLine. If you need to talk to somebody confidentially, call LifeLine-Childline at (061) 23 2221 or for more information about their programs and services contact them at 061 226889 or janes@lifeline.org.na
Other resources
PTSD Forum
Survivors Guide
Rape Abuse and Incest National Network
Overcoming Sexual victimization of boys and men
Dancing in the Darkness
- Physical aches and pains
WHERE TO FIND HELP IN NAMIBIA* PEACE www.peace.org.na is an organization that assists people overcome the negative impact of all forms of violence and other events that may result in trauma.* LifeLine-ChildLine. If you need to talk to somebody confidentially, call LifeLine-Childline at (061) 23 2221 or for more information about their programs and services contact them at 061 226889 or janes@lifeline.org.na
Other resources
PTSD Forum
Survivors Guide
Rape Abuse and Incest National Network
Overcoming Sexual victimization of boys and men
Dancing in the Darkness
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