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Sufferer Recently raped & need help

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Welcome to the forums @ChelseaEB !

Did you have PTSD before you were raped?

...

If not? I couldn’t more strongly recommend reading this article >>>
Traumatic resilience: avoiding ptsd The signs & symptoms of PTSD are actually extremely normal immediately following a trauma, and getting support early can help keep them there in the normal range, instead of lasting the rest of your life.

This, too, for the resources listed within it... even though the title doesn’t exactly meet your situation, the content will be very useful.
Are you wondering if you were raped? read this first.

If yes? New trauma is one of those things that can kick PTSD wide open, again, even if you were extremely well managed before. Ideally it will just be a brief spike in symptoms, and you’ll return to baseline soon; but especially if you haven’t processed your old trauma, it can easily mean having to start all over & needing to process both old and new trauma, in order to get symptoms manageable, again. And if you weren’t well managed, yet? It’s one more great big thing piling onto the rest.

The following 2 articles can really help explain what’s happening & why, with new trauma added onto old.

The ptsd cup explanation

Understanding post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)
 
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My advice - start therapy or treatment of some kind with a trauma specialized therapist or counselor or psychologist or psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner or anything, any professional you can access who is qualified in dealing with trauma.

Get someone who can help you process what happened and maybe lessen the risk of PTSD, or lessen the impact if you do/did develop it. I dont know how recent your rape was, but, if it was under a month ago, and you didnt have PTSD before, then theres still a chance you can avoid it, which would DEFINITELY be ideal.

Early help/treatment could help you avoid developing PTSD. I saw my old therapist 2 days after the last rape that happened, or maybe 1 day, it's very hard for me to recall. I still wound up with PTSD, but I have -about 4 years- of trauma as an adult, and I know for sure I'd be dead or in a psych ward or some shit if I didnt get treatment right away.

I'm glad you reached out here, but definitely reach out in real life too - dont try to handle rape trauma on your own, get the help of a pro. It's hard as f*ck to open up about for many of us, but the help is worth it.

I hope you recover well from your trauma. Whether you have PTSD or not this site can be a great resource for rape trauma survivors. Welcome to the forum, though I wish you didnt need it. You dont deserve to need a place like this - nobody does. But we are here to help and support you.
 
Hi @ChelseaEB - as others have said ^^ get yourself some support as quickly as you can. Even your general practitioner can help to get you referrals.
The longer you stay unsupported the riskier ptsd becomes. Please get support.
And...welcome too!
 
Hi @ChelseaEB. I agree with getting help in whatever form you are able. If you have a local women's center, they will have rape counselors on hand to help. And welcome to the forums! I have gotten a lot of help and support here.
 
Hi @ChelseaEB and welcome to the forum.
I hope you are finding it helpful.

For specific advice, perhaps you could tell us which country you are in? Not if you are uncomfortable to share. I am from the UK, but this is truly an international forum!
 
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