A study shows that from 2017 to 2021, the number of teenage girls in the United States who experienced sexual violence increased by 20%. In addition to this, research also shows that in 2021, nearly one-third of teenage girls have seriously considered suicide. In China, from 2016 to 2022, the Women’s Federation accepted more than 252,000 domestic violence complaints through channels such as the 12338 women’s rights service hotline. We know that experiencing traumatic events, such as sexual abuse or violence, increases the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the future.
The above research results are worrying and frustrating, and have also sounded the alarm to professionals around the world because they need to be equipped to deal with the growing influx of young women into psychotherapy to help them recover from serious mental health problems. Therefore, this article will share with you how to define psychological trauma from a female perspective, how it can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, and how to heal from trauma.
What Is Trauma?
What do you think of when you hear the word “trauma”? Maybe a natural disaster, poverty, chronic neglect, violence, or abuse? By definition, trauma is a long-lasting emotional reaction that occurs when we are unable to cope with an extremely painful event or situation. Each person’s traumatic experience can be subjective and unique, which is why divorce may be traumatic for one person but not for another.
When a traumatic event occurs, the intense emotions you experience may interfere with your ability to process the event thoroughly, and the unpleasant moment may become “frozen in time.” Eventually, if left unaddressed, you may develop post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental disorder triggered by experiencing or witnessing an event that is difficult to cope with.
Some of the most common PTSD symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event, avoidance, and substance abuse. While the above scenarios may occur, it’s important to know that not everyone who experiences a traumatic event develops PTSD.
When we get this diagnosis, it’s easy to feel like there’s something wrong with us. But remember, it’s completely normal for our bodies and brains to respond to abnormal situations in ways that favor our survival. Therefore, many professionals would refer to this experience as a post-traumatic stress injury rather than a disorder.
Are Women at Greater Risk for Trauma?
Research shows that men, women, and people of other gender identities experience trauma, so professionals must address the issue without gender bias. However, statistics show that women may be more likely to experience certain types of traumatic events, such as physical and sexual violence by an intimate partner. The rates tend to be higher for people of other gender identities.
For example, one in five women in the United States has experienced rape or attempted rape in her life. And sexual assault is often underestimated. Even within a relationship, forced consent or forced intimacy without consent can be considered sexual assault.
A 2021 report jointly released by the World Health Organization and UN Women stated that violence against women is alarmingly common and begins at a young age. Globally, one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime, and this number has remained essentially unchanged over the past decade.
When it comes to the effects of trauma, research shows that women’s brains may respond differently than men’s. Women are more likely to experience negative cognitive or emotional changes, dissociative reactions, and other post-traumatic reactions when recalling the event. It’s also worth noting that women generally have different ways of expressing emotions than men: women are more likely to use words like “anxiety.”
Professionals must take these specific gender differences into consideration when providing treatment to clients. Over time, some people learn how to cope with their trauma in healthy ways, however, there are still many female survivors who are unable to fully process the event or are afraid to seek help.
As mentioned previously, untreated trauma can lead to PTSD, which is nearly twice as common in women as in men. In addition to the psychological consequences, those with unresolved trauma may also struggle with physical reactions such as gastrointestinal issues and sexual dysfunction.
Emotional Distress and Trauma in Young Women
Uncovering why women experience more trauma than men is a complex issue with many layers. According to research, in 2021, three in five young women experienced ongoing feelings of sadness and hopelessness during adolescence, which are common signs of depression. This probability has not been reached in the past decade and is almost twice that of adolescent boys.
This trend is also reflected in sexual minorities, where 55 percent of adolescents experience poor mental health. While emotional distress is not necessarily linked to trauma in young women, as professionals we need to be aware of what this trend may look like.
Adolescent girls struggle with intense emotional distress, which can lead to them withdrawing from their loved ones and losing interest in their favorite hobbies and activities. To deflect feelings of inferiority, teens may experiment with drugs, make impulsive decisions, and sometimes engage in riskier sexual activities.
Research also shows that there has been a 27% increase in young women being forced to have sex since 2019. Traumatic experiences like this can be very harmful to a teen’s emotional development.
Therefore, it is important for survivors to properly process traumatic memories and move on successfully. Teens who struggle with traumatic events may have difficulty forming healthy relationships because they lack trust, have unclear interpersonal boundaries, and also have behavioral problems and emotional dysregulation.
We must focus on how to support them and create a more inclusive and supportive environment, rather than viewing these statistics as a sign that something is “wrong” with those who gender identify as female and those who do not adhere to secular standards. This includes providing resources and tools to deal with difficult emotions and experiences, such as support groups and systematic trauma screening.
Appreciating the strengths of women who have experienced trauma, such as their courage and resourcefulness in coping with difficult situations, can help them build on existing strengths and develop new ones. We can do a better job at mental health and trauma processing if we focus on the recovery process, rather than the symptoms themselves.
Trauma-Informed Treatment
Although we know quite a bit about how trauma and PTSD affect individuals, how we as healthcare professionals respond to our client’s recovery process is critical. Trauma-informed therapy looks at an individual’s experiences and past traumas to better understand and deal with their current physical and mental challenges. This approach begins with creating a safe and supportive therapeutic environment where the client feels comfortable and willing to share.
Clinicians may use somatic therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which recognizes that trauma is stored in the body and manifests itself in behavioral disorders and compulsive behaviors, such as eating disorders and substance use disorders.
EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps individuals reprocess traumatic memories in order to heal from post-traumatic stress disorder. A meta-analysis found that EMDR is effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
While EMDR is not a universal treatment and will not work for everyone, it can help treat a variety of traumatic experiences, from combat and sexual assault to natural disasters, accidents, and child abuse.
By acknowledging the connection between the body and trauma, EMDR enables individuals to tap into the body’s self-healing capabilities during treatment. EMDR is client-centered, placing the client in the driver’s seat, and allowing them to take an active role in the recovery process.
Overall, EMDR offers women a unique and effective way to resolve past trauma and move toward a more fulfilling future.
Conclusion
Although many women are likely to suffer from trauma and PTSD throughout their lives, healing is possible. To help survivors get through this, we must make more resources available, such as peer support groups, education about consent and healthy relationships, and accessible treatment options. If you or a loved one is considering suicide, seek help immediately.