Ywca And The Believe About Ptsd.

[mamachick]

Rape trauma response-I bet that is the term.

 

[CrazyHorse]

By being a Christian organisation, they pr. definition have everything to do with religion.

 

[mamachick]

I understand feeling defensive. We think we are on to something and then it feels shot down. I try to look at the debates here as an opportunity for learning. There are things that I know that I know but can't remember because of ptsd and tbi. Very frustrating. Yet parts of psychology are almost innate to me. I am much better with others than myself. LOL.

 

[ashdawn8287]

That sounds familiar. The meeting I had with her was about joining the program but the meeting turned out to be a discussion on treatment and she was very interested in my career goals. I told her the support group would be great but I have healed a lot since I first applied. We pretty much agreed I would do the support group for support of course but also to get familiar with helping sexually abused women. So it is more of a learning experience than support for me. I have heard this healing group is very very powerful. So I am looking forward to seeing other women battle and come out peaceful. I can't wait to meet these women and see them under go there transition from trauma to recovery.

 

[mamachick]

Crazy Horse-that is not necessarily true. I worked for a ywca with a Jewish director. There was no judgement against abortion, etc. There were some individuals that put the spin of christianity on everything. Others, particularly higher educated, stayed away from religion unless client directed.

 

[ashdawn8287]

Its not all about religion. In fact religion was not mentioned at all. I see where you are coming from with that though.

My view of it is science and religion are not mutually exclusive and to favor one of the other does no good to both fields.

I have faith but that's as far as it goes.

 

[CrazyHorse]

I understand that. But the organasation itself is still based on Christian values. I am not saying that that is either a good or bad thing :-)

 

[ashdawn8287]

Thanks for all the feedback and getting me past my defensiveness I really appreciate it more than you guys know.

It was good practice for me. I feel I gained a lot from all the responses.

 

[mamachick]

Thanks for starting the thread. Has drawn much interest.

 

[ashdawn8287]

It is called Rape Trauma Syndrome. Here is the document that she sent me.


Okay the document wont open. I am sorry. Here I will type it out.

What is Rape Trauma Syndrome?

· A complex of physical and emotional symptoms felt by the victim in the time following the rape
· Rape Trauma Syndrome is considered a form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
· There is no single response to trauma – each victim can and very well may react to their experience differently
· It is important to convey to the victim that what she is feeling is normal
· It is important to work with the victim’s family and friends to help them understand the seriousness of the trauma

PHASES OF RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME
Phase I (During the attack):
At the onset of the assault, the victim may be shocked and confused. The victim may become paralyzed with fear. The victim may disassociate from the fear and pain. The victim’s main focus is on surviving the assault.

Phase II (Acute or Disruptive phase):
After the assault, the victim’s main focus is to get to a safe place. It is not unusual for the victim to not tell anyone about the attack, experience nightmares, flashbacks, crying spells and anxiety attacks. These intrusive thoughts and feelings can significantly affect the victim’s ability to function. This is one of the phases when victims most often seek help.


Phase IIl (Outward Adjustment):
In an attempt to put the assault behind her/him, the victim may suddenly drop out of counseling or stop pursuing legal action. Although the victim is still experiencing a significant amount of internal stress, the victim may try to convince others that she/he is no longer affected by the assault.

Phase IV (Revisiting the crisis):
Suppressed feelings begin to resurface and cause the victim to feel as though she/he has traveled back in time to the period immediately following the assault. She/he may feel as though she/he is going crazy, but actually this is a sign she/he is progressing through the
healing process. This phase often prompts the victim to seek help.


Phase V (Acceptance, Resolution, and Integration):
Victim attempts to manage her/his physical and emotional reactions and move toward some
sense of resolution. In time, the survivor will be able to remember the assault without re-living it. She/he has a new life, where the rape no longer defines her/him, but rather is just a part of her/his life experiences.

 

[ashdawn8287]

Never mind the document does open with google chrome. Sorry I didn't realize when I posted I was using Internet Explorer ha.

Anyways I hope you guys enjoy reading it.

 

[Hashi]

Wow. Don't know where to start with this thread.

I'd echo what some other people here have said. People don't all heal in the same way. I completely believe in healing, and I don't relate to the "rape trauma syndrome" stuff you've posted at all. Some others will. Some others won't. Just a plea to bear that in mind.

I'd also say something that probably few other people would agree with. I think identifying my response to trauma as PTSD has been very helpful to me, it helped me understand and normalise my symptoms. At the same time, I never saw it as something I couldn't heal from. That didn't occur to me before reading things on this forum, and I still haven't changed my view. I believe I'm healing and I will reach the point of being healed. Not managing, not in remission - healed. So if you want to challenge things, that doesn't necessarily mean getting away from the diagnosis of PTSD. I think you can equally challenge the idea of PTSD being a life sentence, in fact I wish that someone other than me would!

What's posted above about "rape trauma syndrome" says that it's a form of PTSD - so, is it PTSD or isn't it? If you want to say rape trauma syndrome is something you can recover from, and PTSD isn't, I think you're tying yourself up in knots if rape trauma symptom is a form of PTSD.

I also think you've tied yourself up in knots over the research issue. I've lost track of whether things are now claimed to be research-based or not. I've got very little interest in research for various reasons, but if you're going to go that route I think you need to do it properly and actually cite specific research, not just say you've done a lot of it in various places.

Ashdawn, you've obviously got a good heart, and a big heart, and want only to do good. I think you will probably go out and do a great deal of good. I feel like I'm being a bit harsh here, but that's why I'm being harsh. If you want to do achieve things out there I think you need to stop and breathe, and consider different points of view. I think you need to have a more balanced outlook and to be more grounded in what you say, before you say it.

So, having got all that out of the way, I think it's really great that you want to challenge things and make things better. Do it well, so you'll succeed. We need people like you!