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Suggest Treatment For PTSD In Rape Survivors
Question: I was raped a little over a year ago, and I have PTSD. I'm supposed to go back to the GYN soon, but mine left her practice. I've been looking for a new doctor, but the idea of having a pelvic exam makes me extraordinarily anxious. how do I find a doctor that will be sensitive to this, and how do I get past my anxiety enough to bite the bullet? (I already asked this, but the doctor told me to try and "forget my rape and move on", so I'm asking again in hopes of getting a more knowledgeable physician)
Brief Answer:
Find a female OBGYN trusted by your friends, family.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
Rape-Related PTSD is something which puts a female in a really difficult situation at times, Like you are having anxiety of getting examined by a new OBGYN.
Such similar situations may cause flashbacks of the incident.
I understand that this is extremely difficult to forget such incident.
There are some treatment options available for your problem like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or EMDR therapy.
CBT helps you in figuring out what triggers you, how and why. CBT can help you break negatively biased narratives about yourself — that you, for example, are worthless or helpless or beyond help — and realign your thinking toward more affirmational narratives of self.
For people who experience traumatic symptoms after sexual assault, this can help you break the line of thinking that you somehow deserved the trauma or could have done something to change or prevent it or that you’re never going to get better so why try.
These negative feedback loops are thought to lengthen and worsen bouts of depression and anxiety, and having the tools to intervene can be immensely helpful to those with trauma.
Other than this, some antianxiety drugs like Clonazepam (prescription drug) can help in phases of intense Anxiety.
A psychiatrist/psychologist can help you dealing with this PTSD issues and help in these therapies.
For the internal exam, I would suggest you to find a female OBGYN preferably. You can ask your friends about where they consult. This will help you to develop trust on doctor relatively easily.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further, if you have more queries.
Take care.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).
Find a female OBGYN trusted by your friends, family.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
Rape-Related PTSD is something which puts a female in a really difficult situation at times, Like you are having anxiety of getting examined by a new OBGYN.
Such similar situations may cause flashbacks of the incident.
I understand that this is extremely difficult to forget such incident.
There are some treatment options available for your problem like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or EMDR therapy.
CBT helps you in figuring out what triggers you, how and why. CBT can help you break negatively biased narratives about yourself — that you, for example, are worthless or helpless or beyond help — and realign your thinking toward more affirmational narratives of self.
For people who experience traumatic symptoms after sexual assault, this can help you break the line of thinking that you somehow deserved the trauma or could have done something to change or prevent it or that you’re never going to get better so why try.
These negative feedback loops are thought to lengthen and worsen bouts of depression and anxiety, and having the tools to intervene can be immensely helpful to those with trauma.
Other than this, some antianxiety drugs like Clonazepam (prescription drug) can help in phases of intense Anxiety.
A psychiatrist/psychologist can help you dealing with this PTSD issues and help in these therapies.
For the internal exam, I would suggest you to find a female OBGYN preferably. You can ask your friends about where they consult. This will help you to develop trust on doctor relatively easily.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further, if you have more queries.
Take care.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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