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PART III: THEORY
• Have problems with their social relationships, because they feel emotionally numb, or overwhelmed by emotions.
• Feel guilt, depression, or worry.
• Lose interest in activities that they used to enjoy.
• Have trouble remembering the dangerous event.
Hyper arousal symptoms
These symptoms are an expression of a‘ fight-flight’ response to threat. When survivors are hyper vigilant, they are physiologically in a state of alert and crisis, as if the traumatising event is still occurring. The survivor is physically prepared to escape or defend herself. Some of the relevant symptoms are similar to panic or anxiety disorders. In many cases, they do not need to be triggered but are present constantly. The symptoms include:
• Being easily startled. Survivors may be deeply frightened by a door slamming shut, the sound of a police car, or any loud noise.
• Hyper-vigilance. Persons in this state are acutely aware of everything around them, always alert. They see signs of danger everywhere. When this state of mind is very pronounced, it resembles paranoia.
• Tension. Being tense or on edge may cause muscular problems, and continuous pain.
• Sleeping difficulties. Survivors may wake up frequently, or be unable to sleep, etc. They are often afraid that a traumatising memory will recur if they sleep.
• Outbursts of anger. Survivors may become extremely irritable. This can cause problems with family or friends, because the anger often has no justification and the survivor’ s behaviour can be irritating for others, or be misunderstood.
As a consequence of all her symptoms, the survivor may face, in addition to her mental distress, significant relational or professional difficulties.
A special stressor: rape as a cause of severe traumareaction
“ Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual penetration which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person’ s consent”( Holzman 1996). Rape is an extreme form of violence and causes the same symptoms and trauma-effects as other catastrophic events discussed above. Violent crimes, by other human beings with the intent to harm, have the most serious consequences of all traumas. They also destroy a person’ s social relationships.
Most individuals who are raped become traumatised. The trauma of rape consists of several factors, including fear of being injured or killed, being dehumanised( treated as an object), losing control over your own body and what happens, and becoming helpless and powerless. Despite this, in many societies the rape of women is still not considered a severe crime because it is believed that women have a subordinate position in society and do not enjoy the same rights as men. Often the crime is considered a violation of male property.