Trauma Defined....
Emotions such as fear, shame, humiliation, guilt, and self–blame are common and lead to depression and anxiety. Survivors may experience intrusive or recurring thoughts of the abuse as well as nightmares or flashbacks. Survivors often develop a belief that they caused the sexual abuse and that they deserved it. Survivors may have somatic (body) complaints, eating disturbances, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and physical symptoms related to areas on their body affected by assault. Emotional. Survivors may be very expressive (anger, sadness), disoriented (disbelief, denial), or controlled (distant, calm). Survivors of sexual assault are at an increased risk of developing depression. They may experience persistent sadness, hopelessness and a loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed. Common symptoms include anxiety, depression, and chronic feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Individuals may also experience flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts related to the traumatic ...