How do I deal with my assault and previous PTSD

[ggarcia007]

I was sexually assaulted by a coworker last year. We were both minors. He went on to college and I'm still in high school but I changed schools. I think his siblings are in some of my classes and I get triggered every time I see them or hear their last name. I don't know what to do. If I see someone who looks remotely like my attacker I have a panic attack. Before this I was abused in my childhood home. I don't know how to deal with it and it's getting bad. I don't know what to do. please help me, any advice will help

 

[coraxxx]

I’m really sorry they did that to you @ggarcia007 .

First the classic:

Are you in therapy? Do you have some emotional support? Social support? Any kind of support?

The first thing you need to do is to gather support around you to diminish the feeling of being alone against all this. It’s not everything but it helps you cover your bases and not feel so exposed so much. If you have people you trust in, you can lean a bit on them to help at least to soothe it out of the moment. Ideally someone who isn’t from this high school since having information spread could be a risk and even the mere idea of it can be very triggering.

I do understand the fear at the former abuser’s face. Months after everything that went with my ex, even if it was a plant with a wig I would have jumped. It made me very worried I’d loose it because the response wasn’t necessarily just fear, it was rage as well and I felt very out of control. Anxiety medication did help me. If panic attacks become really so huge it’s impeding your functioning, you could consider talking to your family doctor to see what they have to help manage it. Ideally, a psychiatrist is better but some family doctors can be very helpful.

I hope this helps, feel free to discard if it doesn’t

 

[Weemie]

Welcome to the forum Garcia. The first step you really need to take is to reach out for help, and you've done that right now, but the task isn't over yet. Do you have any form of medical doctor or therapist or psychiatrist in your life right now? If you do not have one, my advice is to seek a professional out and tell them the same things that you just told us. It won't be easy, it may go awry, but it's that old adage. It's what we tell our kids, yeah? You keep asking for help until someone helps you. Be loud about it. You deserve help. In any case, it's very good to meet you and I'm glad you're here.

 

[ggarcia007]

I’m really sorry they did that to you @ggarcia007 .

First the classic:

Are you in therapy? Do you have some emotional support? Social support? Any kind of support?

The first thing you need to do is to gather support around you to diminish the feeling of being alone against all this. It’s not everything but it helps you cover your bases and not feel so exposed so much. If you have people you trust in, you can lean a bit on them to help at least to soothe it out of the moment. Ideally someone who isn’t from this high school since having information spread could be a risk and even the mere idea of it can be very triggering.

I do understand the fear at the former abuser’s face. Months after everything that went with my ex, even if it was a plant with a wig I would have jumped. It made me very worried I’d loose it because the response wasn’t necessarily just fear, it was rage as well and I felt very out of control. Anxiety medication did help me. If panic attacks become really so huge it’s impeding your functioning, you could consider talking to your family doctor to see what they have to help manage it. Ideally, a psychiatrist is better but some family doctors can be very helpful.

I hope this helps, feel free to discard if it doesn’t

Thank you so much :)
No I don’t have a therapist for extremely complicated reasons… but I will soon and I’m very excited.

Thank you again for the help

 

[caroline_13]

I was sexually assaulted by a coworker last year. We were both minors. He went on to college and I'm still in high school but I changed schools. I think his siblings are in some of my classes and I get triggered every time I see them or hear their last name. I don't know what to do. If I see someone who looks remotely like my attacker I have a panic attack. Before this I was abused in my childhood home. I don't know how to deal with it and it's getting bad. I don't know what to do. please help me, any advice will help

Hi ggarcia007:

I'll echo what others here have said. Reach out for help and we can support you here!

I am so sorry this happened to you. It gets better, I promise.