Trauma and Mental Health
Taking care of one’s mental health is essential for everyone, but especially for those who have experienced trauma.
Trauma is a distressing event and/or the lasting emotional impact of the distressing event; anything that overwhelms our ability to cope. While trauma impacts each person differently, for those who have experienced sexual violence, some common themes arise. For example, they may experience a trauma response such as fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Many victim-survivors are diagnosed with things such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression as a result of trauma, or as a result of the response of others to their trauma. Things such as flashbacks, nightmares, and panic attacks may occur and they can happen immediately or after an extended period.
Regardless of how a person responds to trauma, their experience is valid. All victim-survivors of sexual violence should be supported after experiencing a traumatic event.
Understanding PTSD
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What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder often developed after having a traumatic experience, including acts of sexual violence. Research estimates that one…
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What is Trauma?
Survivors.org defines trauma as both: Trauma is both a specific experience and our emotional experiences that arise after that event. Survivors often report that…
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Understanding Memory: How It Works and Its Relationship with Trauma
Memory is a fascinating and complex aspect of human cognition that plays a vital role in our everyday lives. It allows us to learn…
Symptoms of trauma
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Tonic Immobility and Sexual Arousal During Sexual Violence
Tonic Immobility Experiencing assault is a traumatic event that can initiate intense reactions in the body beyond a person’s control. These reactions are commonly…
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Understanding the Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn Response
Experiencing assault is a traumatic event that can trigger intense and instinctive reactions in the body. These reactions are commonly known as the fight…
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Hyperarousal and Hypervigilance
In the aftermath of sexual violence and assault, the emotional and psychological impact can feel overwhelming. Survivors often face a complex mix of feelings…
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Why Do People Isolate After Trauma?
Isolation can be defined as the tendency to separate oneself from others. It is common for those who have experienced a traumatic event to…
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How Does Sexual Violence Impact Self-Esteem?
Self-esteem can be described as an ongoing assessment of one’s sense of self and the value assigned to those perceptions. Self-esteem is based on…
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What is Dissociation?
Dissociation is a mental process that causes a disconnect between different cognitive processes such as one’s thoughts, feelings, sense of identity, memories, and consciousness. …
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