Trauma Paper

In this class I have learned about the detrimental effects trauma and PTSD have on the human as a whole. Trauma shapes how we view the world and how we see people. It effects our bodies, minds, and our concept of self. However, there are mediating factors that play a major role. Proximity to trauma, interpersonal trauma, frequency, age play a role in how trauma may affect a person (Banyard, Williams, & Siegel, 2001). Sexual abuse is a subgroup that contains many maladaptive traits that make it much harder to treat and cope with. This particular type of abuse is so devastating because another human violates the victim, as opposed to a natural disaster. A natural disaster is easier to conceptualize as a victim because it can be viewed as a “freak accident” rather than a violent act directed at them. Sexual trauma can be devastating especially if it happens at the hands of someone we trust. This may violate our attachment and, in turn, make us shut down from the social world. It is now clear to me that a thorough understanding of the implications of sexual abuse are necessary in order to become an effective psychologist. …show more content…
Experiencing interpersonal violence leads people to believe that this is the way people treat other people, in addition to the world is an unsafe place (Lecture, Attachment). Recovery from sexual abuse can be difficult because it can drastically change the victims social functioning. According to lecture, victims of sexual assault are three times more likely to suffer from depression, thirteen times more likely to abuse alcohol, twenty-six times more likely to abuse drugs, and four times more likely to contemplate suicide. These issues that arise after abuse has occurred may leave the victim extremely isolated from support systems, which have shown to be a leading factor for recovery from sexual trauma (Fergusson, Horwood, & Lynskey,