Lisa is a thirty-four year old women with two children, a boy and a girl. When Lisa was fourteen, she was raped by her uncle and she never received therapy for it. Not receiving therapy has changed her life drastically. Lisa ,although a good mother, suffers from depression,tends to drink a lot more than she should, and suffers from anorexia. Because of this, her social life is unstable. She finds herself yelling when she should not, isolating herself from the world and even disassociating herself at work. Lisa used to be an extrovert, the life of the party. She yearns for the life she had before the rape. She is hesitant to seek help, due to the lack of support the system provides to rape victims that are not minors, but she knows all these effects could have been avoided if she went to therapy. Therapy and support should be provided to rape victims because without support , victims run the risk of depression, without the proper help, rape victims can be a risk to themselves and to others, and without the proper psychological help, substance abuse rates increase.
When discussing the topic of rape,depression, a common effect,
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Several studies have shown that rape trauma victims have one of the highest risks of developing PTSD and related conditions (Vartan 1). Although soldiers experience tragedies on the battlefield for their countries, the battle rape victims go through begins when they are raped, but it never ends. Because the battle never ends, rape victims face a constant struggle within themselves. This struggle may include eating disorders or suicidal attempts. Rape survivors are also 13 times more likely to attempt suicide than not crime victims and 6 times more likely than victims of other crimes. (Rape in America: A Report to the Nation, 1992) 26% of women with bulimia nervosa were raped at some point in their lives. (Sexual Assault Statistics
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson should be mandatory reading for 8th graders due to its take on how trauma can affect the lives of its survivors. Through completed writing, the National Book Award finalist and Golden Kite Award winner, Laurie Anderson captures the thoughts of Melinda Sordino. After she gets raped and has to deal with a misunderstanding that leaves her silent and outcast. This short book of 224 pages is mostly written in short statements. From casual thoughts such as, “I zone out,” to ones with impact like, “Why go to school.”
These tarnished relationships make her incapable of having external resources to cope with the excessive amounts of trauma she endures
I still was too embarrassing to be seen with,” Melanie admitted fidgeting. She pulled her thick, curly, brown hair out of her bun and fiddled with the messy strands. She then continued as if astonished and disappointed by her past actions, “and I believed I wasn 't good enough.” Her lips formed a straight line after that sentence, and she tilted her head with a movement that can be described as a weak shrug. “Domestic violence affects one’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors and can significantly impact one’s mental stability.
Melinda also exhibits self-loathing tendencies by avoiding mirrors and by engaging in negative self-talk. This aspect of the novel will allow for the reader to relate to how Melinda is dealing with the situation, but also to self-identify how they are dealing with their situation differently. The decline in Melinda’s functioning is quite extensive; she stops engaging in conversation and her hygiene, school work and attendance plummet. Here, the reader is shown how extensive the effects trauma can have in someone’s life and allows them to learn about it in a private setting without the pressure of speaking about what has happened to them
However, even though they are usually not the ones at fault, nothing is ever said about the event. In a report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, it was found that 75 to 77 percent of sexual assaults, attempted rapes, and completed rapes were never reported (“Sexual Assault and Rapes”). Furthermore, the blame of the whole event was never put on the person responsible. Instead, the victim was blamed for not denying the advances, or for not making themselves clearer in their intents(“Sexual Assault and Rapes”). This huge chip to carry often leaves the victims feeling isolated, scared, full of shame, depressed, and with a low self-esteem(“Sexual Assault and Rapes”).
Historic trauma stems from relocation, disease, residential schools, the Indian Act, and racial policies meant to assimilate and eradicate Aboriginal people (First Nations Health Council, 2011). Contact between Aboriginal Peoples and non-Aboriginals facilitated the spread of epidemic diseases which lead to the Aboriginal population collapse (First Nations Health Council, 2011). Daschuk, Hackett and MacNeil (2006) note that different severities of diseases experienced by First Nations were directly related to the new realities of the First Nations peoples as they struggled to adapt to the world of the colonisers including economic dislocation, political changes, and changes from traditional diets all created the perfect environment for breading diseases. The government and churches actively colonized and controlled Aboriginal peoples by eroding all Aboriginal systems including “spirituality, political authority, education, health care systems, land and resource access, and cultural practices” (First Nations Health Council, 2011, p. 13). It is important to recognize that colonial structures have purposely sought to “eliminate Indigenous sovereignty, Indigenous governments and Indigenous constitutional orders” (Ladner, 2009, p. 90).
Serving in the military can be a very traumatic experience. War entails a lot of conflict, shootings, and bombings. About twelve percent of all veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Also, twenty-three percent of women reported sexual assault while serving in the military, and fifty-five percent reported having experienced sexual harassment when in the military. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is not the only mental illness that these conditions have caused.
Melinda Sordino was the brave, resilient main character of Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel, Speak. Her transition to high school was displayed in a series of journal entries, which provided a clear and accurate window into her psyche. Raped at a party before the start of her freshman year, Melinda was ostracized by teachers, classmates, family and friends, instead of receiving the help she deserved. She continued to be abused by her rapist, popular senior Andy Evans, and was plagued by flashbacks whenever she saw him. The cumulation of her trauma
Introduction Whether at war or at home, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been around since the earliest records of violence in the history of humankind. Although it has been known by different names such as shell shock or combat exhaustion, the symptoms have remained relatively the same and not exclusive to war or combat. PTSD is known to be incurable, but with the advent of modern day treatments and therapies many symptoms of PTSD can be mitigated and alleviated. Background Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is defined by DSM-5 as a trauma and stressor related disorder where the individual being diagnosed has been exposed to a serious and traumatic experience.
Nearly 20 percent of 30,000 suicides are attributed to veterans each year (Cesar, Sabia & Tekin, 2012). This number represents a substantial number of military personnel suffering with mental health problems. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (2011) PTSD impairs one’s ability to function in social or family life, which includes instability, marital problems, divorce, family conflict, and difficulty in parenting (p. 3). PTSD causes much impairment and has many contributing factors; for that reason, it is important to discuss the quality of services available to
She doesn’t trust herself to know is she was actually raped or not or if her attraction to Andy and drunken state was consent. She won’t go to the party with David, a boy she actually likes, because she felt she couldn't trust him because she trusted Andy and he hurt her. Throughout her days things such as dissection of a frog or invitations to pizza parties causes her to flashback and re-live memories of what happened that she so desperately wants to forget. Seeing her rapist in the hall every day and not being able to and feeling like she can’t say anything about what he did. She sees him talking to other potential victims and she wants to help them, but has trouble finding her
Harner & Burgess, 2011states that a range of physical and mental health illnesses have been associated with previous trauma exposure. The findings are especially evident in individuals, which have experienced multiple/prolonged periods of victimizations. Harris & Fallot 2004 also states that one of the most common effects of trauma experience is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder that is likely to develop later in response to traumatic event. Symptoms experienced with PTSD include re-living symptoms (nightmares, flash backs, interfering and unpleasant
Introduction: From time immemorial a lot of ink has been spilled on the concept of traumatic psychology developed in men. People have long proclaimed, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” (www.childtrauma.com). Psychological wound brings experiences and help people to grow more strong. Sometimes traumatic growth doesn’t happen naturally, it also can be hereditary.
1 out of every 6 women have been the victim of either attempted or completed rape(pause). 14.8% completed rape, 2.8% attempted rape, 15% of sexual assault and rape victims are under the age of 12(pause), 44% are under the age of 18(pause), 80% are under the age of 30. Any of those girls or women could end up pregnant and not be able to support or raise a child (pause). Rape victims can be minors and wouldn 't be mentally or physically prepared to care for a child (pause).
Can a history of childhood trauma have impact on happiness as an adult? I would conduct my study using the correlational method. My research would include children who have experienced trauma and see how they are coping. I would also interview adults who have experienced trauma as children and see how they are coping. I would listen for common threads, traits and experiences in their stories.