Sharing Your Happiness

A victim may go to several doctors before being treated with respect or with seriousness, as there may not be any obvious physical source of the problem. Physicians often need something physical to be able to get insurance companies to pay attention to the patient's complaints.

Some typical forms of physical problems, although they stretch across the spectrum of the entire physical body, are recurrent stomach problems, headaches, back and neck aches, along with sexual dysfunctions of many forms. The victim also may possibly suffer from a sexually transmitted disease given to them by the rapist.

When the horrific event goes without concern or care by others, it is possible that the victim may not ever get to the resolution of the problem. In fact, they may also learn to believe that they are possibly having mental problems, which have little or nothing to do with the assault or rape.

One of the primary things that causes physical and mental ailment in a patient in crisis is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even trained professionals may not recognize PTSD for what it truly is; an actual illness. It has become clear over time that the mind and body work in conjunction. In this way, a survivor may indeed suffer mental trauma that affects their physical health.

How can you as an individual help a person victimized by trauma? • Try to employ the joy of healing approaches that you have used in other parts of your life. • Try to encourage the victim to report the crime to the authorities if they haven't done so already. • Make certain that medical assistance is sought immediately if they haven't done by the time that they share the crime with you. • Provide a shoulder and a listening ear can help you both. You, the listener, will become a helpmate, while sharing your gift of optimism with a sexual-assault victim; as you tell them that things will get better. • Even more helpful is to try to urge the rape victim to get involved in a sexual-assault self-help group. • With tender care, walk the victim through the course of finding a place to go for help. Possibly, you can take her/him to a support meeting. • If the victim will allow you, you may want to stay with them for moral support. • Or, be the friend who waits outside a survivor's meeting.

While being helpful by using the above suggestions, you may indeed be helping yourself as much as the victim, when

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