Post-traumatic stress

Laura Henkel went into psychiatric care for three years, and then moved into a small housing commission flat and became a virtual hermit. They called it post-traumatic stress, but for Laura, life was meaningless, and she wanted nothing to do with the outside world. And time did not heal.

According to the Australian Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious psychological reaction that develops in some people following experience of overwhelmingly frightening or traumatic events. It can result from many types of trauma, especially those which threaten life. Such events include, but are not limited to, combat, assault, sexual assault, natural disaster, accidents and torture.

Some of the key symptoms include:

Memories and images of the traumatic events may "intrude" into the lives of individuals with PTSD. This can happen in vivid daytime memories, as well as in dreams and “flashback” experiences. For people with PTSD, it may seem as though the present has become dominated by the past. These intrusive memories occur suddenly and without obvious cause. They are often accompanied by intense emotions, such as grief, guilt, fear, or anger. Sometimes they can be so vivid that the individual believes the trauma is re-occurring. In traumatised children, this reliving of trauma often occurs as repetitive play in which the event is re-enacted. In young children, distressing dreams of the traumatic event may evolve into general nightmares of monsters, or threats to themselves or family members.
Traumatised individuals may avoid situations, people, or events which remind them of the event. In severe cases, the person may become "numb", withdrawing into themselves in an attempt to shut out the painful memories and feelings.
Individuals with PTSD often feel incapable of responding appropriately to others. They may report being unable to feel emotions, even toward those to whom they are closest. This emotional avoidance and numbing inevitably affects relationships. It may cause the individual to withdraw from family or friends, and makes it difficult for them to engage in a normal life. Often family members may feel rejected by a PTSD sufferer who is unable to show appropriate affection and emotion.
Severe trauma can cause individuals to feel at risk of further traumatisation. This sense of vulnerability can leave them feeling "jumpy" and constantly on guard. People with PTSD often report exaggerated startle reactions and extreme watchfulness. Sleep may become difficult and disturbed. They may feel irritable and angry with themselves, others around them, and the world in general.
Individuals with PTSD often report concentration and memory problems. This, along with the other symptoms associated with PTSD, may cause sufferers to develop problems at work and impair relationships with family and friends.

Laura says of the years she spent coping with post-traumatic stress, ‘I was having memory lapses and trouble with even simple words and phrases.’

But it’s not just the person who is sexually assaulted that can exhibit the symptoms of PSTD – close family members and friends who try to help the survivor can also be harmed.

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