Whenever I hear a new accusation against Brett Kavanaugh, I know that my next few days at work are going to be especially rough. I’m a therapist who treats many victims of sexual abuse, and since the Kavanaugh sexual assault allegations have exploded, I know each new story will lead to a call or text begging for an emergency session by a re-traumatized patient. (Kavanaugh denies the allegations.)
Studies conducted by the National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center Medical University show that nearly one-third of all rape victims develop PTSD at some point and that it does not recede for more than one in 10. This syndrome can cause depression, anxiety, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, alcohol or drug problems, and suicidal thoughts.
Barely a half-hour after Michael Avenatti released the deposition of a third Kavanaugh accuser who swore the nominee attended teenage parties where girls were drugged and “gang raped,” a patient I’ll call Jean who had been the victim of a date rape seven months earlier texted, “I don’t know how much longer I can go on. I’m in so much pain.”
[For more on this story by Sherry Amatenstein, go to https://www.vox.com/policy-and...exual-assault-trauma]
Comments (0)