TonioTimeDaily

Rape Trauma Syndrome

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"RAINN[8] identifies five main coping strategies during the outward adjustment phase:

  • minimization (pretending 'everything is fine')
  • dramatization (cannot stop talking about the assault)
  • suppression (refuses to discuss the rape)
  • explanation (analyzes what happened)
  • flight (moves to a new home or city, alters appearance)

    • Other coping mechanisms that may appear during the outward adjustment phase include:

    • poor health in general.[4]
    • continuing anxiety
    • sense of helplessness
    • Carelessness of themselves or others around them (they could not protect themselves against the attack so they lose self care)
    • hypervigilance
    • inability to maintain previously close relationships
    • experiencing a general response of nervousness known as the "startle response"
    • persistent fear and or depression at much higher rates than the general population[11]
    • mood swings from relatively happy to depression or anger
    • extreme anger and hostility (they are very hateful towards the ones that are closest to them [12]). Some survivors may even say "I HATE PEOPLE" or "I HATE THE WORLD".
    • sleep disturbances such as vivid dreams and recurring nightmares
    • insomnia, wakefulness, night terrors[13]
    • flashbacks
    • dissociation (feeling like one is not attached to one's body)
    • panic attacks
    • reliance on coping mechanisms, some of which may be beneficial (e.g., philosophy and family support), and others that may ultimately be counterproductive (e.g., self harm, drug, or alcohol abuse[14][15])."
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      TonioTimeDailyBy Antonio Myers