Sexual Assault, Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Most people don't like to talk. For some, it's because they just don't want to talk about it, and for others, it's because they've experienced some type of trauma that has affected their life so much that it causes great stress. 'talk about it. The person may feel vulnerable if they open up. They may feel judged. They may feel sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and a lack of control over the situation. Whatever they are experiencing, these emotions are valid, they may just be telling a story that doesn't exactly match the reality of current circumstances. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay. Trauma is an injury that occurs to tissue, caused by a force external to the body or by a psychological behavioral state of mind resulting from a serious mental or emotional problem. stress (DSM). Today, women are still subject to many stereotypes regarding sexuality. The victimization and objectification of women continued to be glorified by the media and larger societal projects (American Psychological Association, 2007). Many media outlets claim that sexual assault is wrong and want victims to come forward to provide help and support and prosecute offenders. Although some women will come forward, many women will not do so out of fear of rejection, not being taken seriously, blaming themselves for what happened to them, or shame. There are many myths about sexual assault, and in today's society, unfortunately, people still believe them. Some women will seek counseling, while others will attempt to manage emotional stress on their own. It is important for trauma victims to seek help because repressing these emotions for long periods of time can have negative effects on their quality of life (Jacques-Tiura, Tkatch, Abbey, & Wegner, 2010). What are the most common symptoms after trauma? sexual assault and how is a person's life affected? The information collected for this article was gathered by researching exactly what sexual assault is, the signs and symptoms exhibited after the assault, what trauma includes, why some sexual assaults go unreported, and why therapy should be used to aid the healing process. All resources have been collected from scientific journals, articles and books. Sexual assault and myths Sexual assault refers to any unwanted sexual activity such as rape or unwanted touching, the use of force by a perpetrator or the exploitation of a target who has not given consent. Reactions following sexual assault can include shock, fear, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (American Psychological Association, 2020). A myth is something that is not factual. There are often myths about women and sexual assault. In some cases, if a woman is raped under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then she is responsible for what happens to her; women find that being forced to have sex actually enjoys it; someone who claims to have been raped usually wants to have sex, but then changes their mind; alonewomen who sleep and spend their time in bars are attacked; women over-exaggerate what is happening to them and how much it has affected their lives; a woman who dresses provocatively and puts herself in situations deserves what happens to her; if a woman does not fight back, it cannot be called rape, and if a woman does not immediately bleed from cuts or bruises, it should not be taken seriously (Ullman, 2010). Sometimes victims of sexual assault can feel outraged. -victimized because someone else questions their version of what happened. This can cause the victim to doubt themselves, but also to relive the traumatic incident over and over again. Unfortunately, the blame is often placed on the victim (Ullman, 2010). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental health problem that follows a traumatic event. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM, provides diagnostic criteria for many mental health conditions. PTSD has several criteria that must be present for a diagnosis to be made. Symptoms of PTSD include, but are not limited to: dissociative properties, flashbacks, sleep disturbances, anger outbursts, concentration problems, shame, fear, nightmares, avoidance, protective mechanisms, depression and anxiety, hypervigilance , exaggerated startle reactions, and self-harm behavior, including suicide/suicidal ideation. The duration of certain criteria must be one month or more: recurring distressing memories of the traumatic event, recurring dreams related to the traumatic event, incessant repetition of the traumatic event and internal or external factors that resemble the event and trigger psychological distress. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual). Persistent avoidance of provocations related to the upsetting incident, avoidance of memories, thoughts, and feelings associated with the event, and avoidance of people, places, or activities likely to elicit emotional reactions are often observed in trauma victims. When victims are asked about the incident, the negative alterations in their minds often become worse and they may acquire what is called dissociative amnesia. Dissociative amnesia occurs when a victim suppresses memories of the incident, which can cause them to "forget" parts of the traumatic event. Victims will also believe that they did something wrong to deserve what happened to them and will develop trust issues. When it comes to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, clarification on whether the individual has dissociative symptoms such as depersonalization, i.e. feeling like they are in a dream , or experiences of feeling detached from something and derealized, which are recurring experiences of unreality of a People's environment, like the world around them, is one-sided. Signs and symptoms that manifest six months or more after the incident are presented as delayed expression (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual). Why Victims Don't Report Sexual Assault According to Ullman (2010), forty-two percent of women feel shame. and fear of reporting the assault that happened to them. There are four main reasons why women do not report sexual assault: not wanting family members or others to know what happened, lack of evidence that it happened product ; fear of retaliation or punishment from the perpetrator or others, and fear of mistreatment by the justice systemcriminal. Most women do not report an assault immediately because they fear not being taken seriously or receiving negative reactions or comments, and they do so. do not want to recognize themselves as a victim. Sometimes victims are asked to relive the incident repetitively due to doubts from others, which can make victims feel illegitimate (Ullman, 2010). Twenty-eight percent of women consider sexual assault to be their fault (Resick, 1983). Unfortunately, in some cases where the victim reports the attack, the attacker is never found guilty. This leads to many sexual assaults never being reported (Ullman, 2010). People are encouraged to try and seek some form of therapy in order to learn how to talk about and manage their emotions in the face of trauma. Some women said they tried to seek counseling but then decided against it because they were afraid of what the therapist would think of them. The victim will essentially try to overcome the sexual assault on their own because they want to feel in control. They feel like it's too personal to share, or they feel extreme guilt for imposing their problems on someone else. Some women believe that if they talk about the trauma, the memories will stay more focused in their mind, allowing them to remember the incident very clearly, whereas if they avoid talking about the incident and suppress these emotions, they will can then recover from it (Resick, 1983). High psychological distress is reported to increase an assault victim's chances of seeking help, but Jacques-Tiura, Tkatch, Abbey, & Wegner, 2010 argue that victims who blame themselves for the incident have tend not to ask for help because they feel like it's their fault, that no one can or will help them, or that they don't deserve help. Therapy and Advocacy When a person clings to a traumatic event and does not want to talk about how they feel by suppressing their emotions, it means they cannot process them cognitively or emotionally. Cognitive appraisal such as feelings or thoughts regarding the aggression, including self-labeling or acknowledging their experiences, may affect PTSD symptoms (Dunmore, Clark, & Ehlers, 2001). Mental health professionals are trained to ask sensitive questions. Whether people voluntarily withhold information about their traumatic experience depends on the type of positive, empathetic response they can receive. Lepore, Ragan, and Jones (2000) argue that people who talk to someone in a supportive role after facing a traumatic situation and being vulnerable to a stressful stimulus can facilitate adjustment and initiate healing in relation to someone. 'one who doesn't talk about his experiences. As people think about clients and their traumatic experiences, it is important to think about clinicians as well. Clinicians hear repeated accounts of sexual assault and other trauma revealed to them, and there is sometimes a negative ripple effect from the client to the therapist (Figley, 2005). Clinicians provide support to survivors of sexual assault and can provide resources to help them. provide them with empathy, help them reestablish a certain type of control desired by the victims and minimize the effects of the trauma (Najavits, 2002). Mental health professionals want to make a difference in people's lives. Sometimes a “Thanks for helping me,” a “Thanks for being here,” and an “I appreciate you” help.greatly to encourage a therapist. Therapists enjoy being able to see their clients grow, see them heal and progress, and be bigger in life than the trauma they experienced (Ullman, 2010). Research and future practice as a clinician While conducting research on topics that proved to be A topic that the student was interested in was sexual assault and trauma. The researcher wanted to find out the different reasons why some sexual assaults are not reported to authorities, the effects of trauma and how it can impact a person's quality of life, as well as how they cope with it. takes for help. did not change for reasons of personal experience of the researcher. In an open system, organisms adapt to their current situation and hope to achieve desired outcomes by sending and receiving information from environmental factors (Smith-Acuna, 2011). The student was able to maintain an open system by keeping flexible boundaries on topics and questions by allowing contribution. The student kept an open mind while conducting research on her chosen topic, in case the research took her down a different path to explore. The most important resources that the student found useful in conducting this research was the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). , the American Psychological Association. While researching the topic, the future clinician came across symptoms of trauma victims that became personal. The clinician began to see the different things that she herself had experienced and repressed. The researcher was able to dig into and explore the different aspects of sexual assault and traumatic events. The student was able to see that she is not alone and that everything she was feeling is a normal reaction to trauma and that she no longer needs to blame herself. She realizes that she has the power to change her thought process and embrace therapeutic systems in an effort to enhance healing. The most confusing part of the research experience was trying to put all the information together in the format provided in the student's plan. spirit. As the research progressed, different ideas arose in the researcher's mind, which allowed him to develop the previously decided research question. The most frustrating thing was having this whole idea prepared and then having your perspective changed because of a personal experience. . Frustration sets in because of the desire to control situations and in reality, this is not always the case. When conducting research in the future, the student will change the way research is conducted. The student can try to establish a topic on a personal level to ensure the research is interesting. The student will also make sure that the sources have authors and years included in the articles, as some of them did not have them, making it difficult to search. quote. The only thing to remember when conducting research is to keep the topic close to you. Make sure it's something that can grab the searcher's attention and make sure you have enough information to accompany the answer you want answered. Conclusion Trauma is an event that occurs to a person and can have negative effects on their overall well-being. be. Sexual assault can cause post-traumatic stress disorder in individuals. Diagnostic criteria for PTSD can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM. Common symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, mood changes,/10.1037/12083-003

Essay / Sexual Assault, Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Most people don't like to talk. For some, it's because they just don't want to talk about it, and for others, it's because they've experienced some type of trauma that has affected their life so much that it causes great stress. 'talk about it. The person may feel vulnerable if they open up. They may feel judged. They may feel sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and a lack of control over the situation. Whatever they are experiencing, these emotions are valid, they may just be telling a story that doesn't exactly match the reality of current circumstances. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay. Trauma is an injury that occurs to tissue, caused by a force external to the body or by a psychological behavioral state of mind resulting from a serious mental or emotional problem. stress (DSM). Today, women are still subject to many stereotypes regarding sexuality. The victimization and objectification of women continued to be glorified by the media and larger societal projects (American Psychological Association, 2007). Many media outlets claim that sexual assault is wrong and want victims to come forward to provide help and support and prosecute offenders. Although some women will come forward, many women will not do so out of fear of rejection, not being taken seriously, blaming themselves for what happened to them, or shame. There are many myths about sexual assault, and in today's society, unfortunately, people still believe them. Some women will seek counseling, while others will attempt to manage emotional stress on their own. It is important for trauma victims to seek help because repressing these emotions for long periods of time can have negative effects on their quality of life (Jacques-Tiura, Tkatch, Abbey, & Wegner, 2010). What are the most common symptoms after trauma? sexual assault and how is a person's life affected? The information collected for this article was gathered by researching exactly what sexual assault is, the signs and symptoms exhibited after the assault, what trauma includes, why some sexual assaults go unreported, and why therapy should be used to aid the healing process. All resources have been collected from scientific journals, articles and books. Sexual assault and myths Sexual assault refers to any unwanted sexual activity such as rape or unwanted touching, the use of force by a perpetrator or the exploitation of a target who has not given consent. Reactions following sexual assault can include shock, fear, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (American Psychological Association, 2020). A myth is something that is not factual. There are often myths about women and sexual assault. In some cases, if a woman is raped under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then she is responsible for what happens to her; women find that being forced to have sex actually enjoys it; someone who claims to have been raped usually wants to have sex, but then changes their mind; alonewomen who sleep and spend their time in bars are attacked; women over-exaggerate what is happening to them and how much it has affected their lives; a woman who dresses provocatively and puts herself in situations deserves what happens to her; if a woman does not fight back, it cannot be called rape, and if a woman does not immediately bleed from cuts or bruises, it should not be taken seriously (Ullman, 2010). Sometimes victims of sexual assault can feel outraged. -victimized because someone else questions their version of what happened. This can cause the victim to doubt themselves, but also to relive the traumatic incident over and over again. Unfortunately, the blame is often placed on the victim (Ullman, 2010). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental health problem that follows a traumatic event. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM, provides diagnostic criteria for many mental health conditions. PTSD has several criteria that must be present for a diagnosis to be made. Symptoms of PTSD include, but are not limited to: dissociative properties, flashbacks, sleep disturbances, anger outbursts, concentration problems, shame, fear, nightmares, avoidance, protective mechanisms, depression and anxiety, hypervigilance , exaggerated startle reactions, and self-harm behavior, including suicide/suicidal ideation. The duration of certain criteria must be one month or more: recurring distressing memories of the traumatic event, recurring dreams related to the traumatic event, incessant repetition of the traumatic event and internal or external factors that resemble the event and trigger psychological distress. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual). Persistent avoidance of provocations related to the upsetting incident, avoidance of memories, thoughts, and feelings associated with the event, and avoidance of people, places, or activities likely to elicit emotional reactions are often observed in trauma victims. When victims are asked about the incident, the negative alterations in their minds often become worse and they may acquire what is called dissociative amnesia. Dissociative amnesia occurs when a victim suppresses memories of the incident, which can cause them to "forget" parts of the traumatic event. Victims will also believe that they did something wrong to deserve what happened to them and will develop trust issues. When it comes to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, clarification on whether the individual has dissociative symptoms such as depersonalization, i.e. feeling like they are in a dream , or experiences of feeling detached from something and derealized, which are recurring experiences of unreality of a People's environment, like the world around them, is one-sided. Signs and symptoms that manifest six months or more after the incident are presented as delayed expression (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual). Why Victims Don't Report Sexual Assault According to Ullman (2010), forty-two percent of women feel shame. and fear of reporting the assault that happened to them. There are four main reasons why women do not report sexual assault: not wanting family members or others to know what happened, lack of evidence that it happened product ; fear of retaliation or punishment from the perpetrator or others, and fear of mistreatment by the justice systemcriminal. Most women do not report an assault immediately because they fear not being taken seriously or receiving negative reactions or comments, and they do so. do not want to recognize themselves as a victim. Sometimes victims are asked to relive the incident repetitively due to doubts from others, which can make victims feel illegitimate (Ullman, 2010). Twenty-eight percent of women consider sexual assault to be their fault (Resick, 1983). Unfortunately, in some cases where the victim reports the attack, the attacker is never found guilty. This leads to many sexual assaults never being reported (Ullman, 2010). People are encouraged to try and seek some form of therapy in order to learn how to talk about and manage their emotions in the face of trauma. Some women said they tried to seek counseling but then decided against it because they were afraid of what the therapist would think of them. The victim will essentially try to overcome the sexual assault on their own because they want to feel in control. They feel like it's too personal to share, or they feel extreme guilt for imposing their problems on someone else. Some women believe that if they talk about the trauma, the memories will stay more focused in their mind, allowing them to remember the incident very clearly, whereas if they avoid talking about the incident and suppress these emotions, they will can then recover from it (Resick, 1983). High psychological distress is reported to increase an assault victim's chances of seeking help, but Jacques-Tiura, Tkatch, Abbey, & Wegner, 2010 argue that victims who blame themselves for the incident have tend not to ask for help because they feel like it's their fault, that no one can or will help them, or that they don't deserve help. Therapy and Advocacy When a person clings to a traumatic event and does not want to talk about how they feel by suppressing their emotions, it means they cannot process them cognitively or emotionally. Cognitive appraisal such as feelings or thoughts regarding the aggression, including self-labeling or acknowledging their experiences, may affect PTSD symptoms (Dunmore, Clark, & Ehlers, 2001). Mental health professionals are trained to ask sensitive questions. Whether people voluntarily withhold information about their traumatic experience depends on the type of positive, empathetic response they can receive. Lepore, Ragan, and Jones (2000) argue that people who talk to someone in a supportive role after facing a traumatic situation and being vulnerable to a stressful stimulus can facilitate adjustment and initiate healing in relation to someone. 'one who doesn't talk about his experiences. As people think about clients and their traumatic experiences, it is important to think about clinicians as well. Clinicians hear repeated accounts of sexual assault and other trauma revealed to them, and there is sometimes a negative ripple effect from the client to the therapist (Figley, 2005). Clinicians provide support to survivors of sexual assault and can provide resources to help them. provide them with empathy, help them reestablish a certain type of control desired by the victims and minimize the effects of the trauma (Najavits, 2002). Mental health professionals want to make a difference in people's lives. Sometimes a “Thanks for helping me,” a “Thanks for being here,” and an “I appreciate you” help.greatly to encourage a therapist. Therapists enjoy being able to see their clients grow, see them heal and progress, and be bigger in life than the trauma they experienced (Ullman, 2010). Research and future practice as a clinician While conducting research on topics that proved to be A topic that the student was interested in was sexual assault and trauma. The researcher wanted to find out the different reasons why some sexual assaults are not reported to authorities, the effects of trauma and how it can impact a person's quality of life, as well as how they cope with it. takes for help. did not change for reasons of personal experience of the researcher. In an open system, organisms adapt to their current situation and hope to achieve desired outcomes by sending and receiving information from environmental factors (Smith-Acuna, 2011). The student was able to maintain an open system by keeping flexible boundaries on topics and questions by allowing contribution. The student kept an open mind while conducting research on her chosen topic, in case the research took her down a different path to explore. The most important resources that the student found useful in conducting this research was the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). , the American Psychological Association. While researching the topic, the future clinician came across symptoms of trauma victims that became personal. The clinician began to see the different things that she herself had experienced and repressed. The researcher was able to dig into and explore the different aspects of sexual assault and traumatic events. The student was able to see that she is not alone and that everything she was feeling is a normal reaction to trauma and that she no longer needs to blame herself. She realizes that she has the power to change her thought process and embrace therapeutic systems in an effort to enhance healing. The most confusing part of the research experience was trying to put all the information together in the format provided in the student's plan. spirit. As the research progressed, different ideas arose in the researcher's mind, which allowed him to develop the previously decided research question. The most frustrating thing was having this whole idea prepared and then having your perspective changed because of a personal experience. . Frustration sets in because of the desire to control situations and in reality, this is not always the case. When conducting research in the future, the student will change the way research is conducted. The student can try to establish a topic on a personal level to ensure the research is interesting. The student will also make sure that the sources have authors and years included in the articles, as some of them did not have them, making it difficult to search. quote. The only thing to remember when conducting research is to keep the topic close to you. Make sure it's something that can grab the searcher's attention and make sure you have enough information to accompany the answer you want answered. Conclusion Trauma is an event that occurs to a person and can have negative effects on their overall well-being. be. Sexual assault can cause post-traumatic stress disorder in individuals. Diagnostic criteria for PTSD can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM. Common symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, mood changes,/10.1037/12083-003

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