Dr. Kshitija T. Dongrikar

The trauma of being sexually assaulted can be shattering and make one feel ashamed, alone, and unaccepted. It would invariably give way to nightmares, horrifying flashbacks, and a host of unpleasant memories.
Regardless of how you may feel at that moment, you must tell yourself that you cannot be blamed for everything that happened and you will be able to regain back your normal sense of trust and safety if you try. It will undoubtedly take time, and the process of healing can also be painful. Thankfully, with the right support and strategies, you can leave the trauma behind while rebuilding the sense of self-control.

1. Reframing what happened: It can be extremely difficult to admit that you have been sexually assaulted due to many reasons. It can make you feel offended and weak while also thinking how others would react to it. You are likely to feel that you don’t need to talk to anyone regarding it and act as if nothing ever happened. However, hiding facts will never allow you to heal but add to the feeling of shame. You should choose someone who is not just supportive, but calm and empathetic towards you as well. If you do not have anyone to speak to, you can always go for therapy sessions with a psychiatrist.
2. Preparing for flashbacks: Traumatic experiences, particularly the ones that involve sexual issues can cause the nervous system to get stuck in an unpleasant state. The human brain can become hyper-sensitive to even the smallest stimuli. This is especially the case with those who have endured sexual trauma. Nightmares and intrusive memories are very common, and you should try to avoid the triggers that incite such feelings. You should pay attention to your health and your emotional state since that will help you track the warning signs such as stress or depression. You must immediately calm yourself down by slowing down your breathing as a panic state sets in.
3. Nurturing yourself: Healing from sexual trauma is a gradual and time-taking process. You must be very patient throughout. It may not have any effect in a day or disappear completely. This would make your life a lot more difficult at times, but there is a lot that you can do to cope up with the anxiety and fear. You may feel isolated and disconnected from others, but you should try to stay connected with your loved ones since that is vital to your recovery.

Trauma is bound to make you feel powerless as well as vulnerable. It is significant to remind yourself that you have the strength to cope with your tough times. You may also join support groups that can help you cope with these issues and help you lead a fulfilling and healthy life.

PTSD is a neurological disorder which affects individuals after experiencing severe traumatic situations. The individuals find it difficult to cope with such situations and often have flashbacks of those moments of trauma. Stress, as a result of the trauma wrecks the normal nervous functioning of the individuals. PTSD can have the following symptoms:

Re experiencing:

1. Flashbacks of the traumatic event
2. Nightmares, which are repetitive and severely distressing
3. Images from the traumatic event intruding during the day
4. Reminders of the event provoking distress

Avoidance or rumination:

1. Those suffering from PTSD avoid being reminded of the trauma, such as people, situations or circumstances associated with the event. They try to suppress memories associated with the event.
2. Many others ruminate excessively and prevent themselves from coming to terms with it.

Hyper arousal or emotional numbing:

1. Hyper vigilance for threat
2. Exaggerated sterile response
3. Irritability
4. Difficulty concentrating
5. Sleep problems
6. Difficulty experiencing emotion
7. Emotional detachment from others
8. Giving up activities which mattered before the trauma
9. Amnesia for salient aspects of the trauma

How to manage PTSD?

The following tips will help to come to terms with your traumatic episode and ease stress:

1. If symptoms are mild, then observing the patient is preferred
2. If symptoms are chronic, then trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) proves to be beneficial
3. Alternative treatments include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
4. Comorbid symptoms such as depression, general anxiety and alcohol or substance abuse are secondary to PTSD. PTSD should be treated first and then the associated symptoms should be addressed.
5. Mindfulness meditation (not a treatment option) helps in recognizing cognitive dissonances and affected thought patterns and aids in recognizing and overcoming their influence.

Difference between mental problem and mental illness.

In today's day and age depression is very common and affects all age groups including children. Adults and the elderly.
Depression is more than just a bad mood. It is persistent. If you or someone close to you experiences one or more of the following symptoms for a period of two weeks or more it indicates clinical depression.

• Persistent sadness or low mood
• Not being able to enjoy things
• Losing interest in life
• Finding it harder to make decisions
• Not coping with things that used to be easy
• Feeling exhausted
• Feeling restless and agitated
• Loss of appetite and weight
• Difficulties getting to sleep
• Loss of sex drive
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Remember depression is common and treatable.