Will I Survive? Navigating PTSD After Being Sexual Assaulted
"It was just one bad night" say many survivors to themselves after being sexual assaulted. Many people who have been assaulted will attempt to try to go about their next day as if they can just pick up the pieces. However, soon after the assault many people realize they are unable to simply move on. Sexual assault is far from just a bad night. There are long-term issues that impact a person’s mental health after being assaulted. Common experiences survivors face after being sexually assault are: reliving the event, wanting the memory to disappear from existence, avoiding anything that reminds them of what happened, upsetting dreams, etc. We often only hear the term PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) to be associated with men who go to war. According to RAINN, 94% of women experience symptoms of PTSD two weeks after being raped and “33% of women who are raped contemplate suicide.” So where do we go from here? How do we survive the aftermath of sexual assault?
First, let’s understand what PTSD is. PTSD is comprised of four different categories:
Intrusive memories
Negative thoughts and feelings
Hyperarousal
Avoidance
Logically, lots of people who have been through traumatic experiences understand that what happened to them is in the past. So why do feel tortured by our own brain? Behind every emotion we feel there is positive intent and purpose. PTSD occurs because our brains are always trying to protect us. The part of our brain that is the “body guard” which keeps us safe is the amygdala. This is where our traumatic memories get stuck and continuously replay on a loop. Even though the event is over, we still feel the need to protect ourselves from it happening again. Hence why our brains are triggered by things in our environment that remind us of what happened. Our brains are on over drive attempting to pick up signs of potential danger.
This is where mental health therapy comes into play. As trauma therapists, we help people heal from the impacts of sexual assault. Common goals we help people connect with in therapy are:
Emotion regulation
Learn to live in your present moment
Develop coping skills
Be more compassionate towards your experience
At Healing Loudly LLC, we dedicated to support survivors of trauma as they reclaim their voices and rebuild their lives. Through trauma-informed, compassionate therapy, we provide a safe and empowering space for healing. Our mission is to walk alongside survivors as they move from surviving to thriving. We strive to create a safe space where healing is not only possible, but boldly pursued. Beyond the therapy room, we actively engage in community education, advocacy, and collaboration to break the silence around trauma.
If you are interested in 1:1 therapy to heal from your past trauma, schedule a free consultation with us here. You will be matched with a therapist who best fits your needs.