Victims of sexual assault may experience strong stress reactions, intense anxiety, and flashbacks to their attacks from environmental cues that remind them of being attacked and helpless. If these become frequent, intense, and debilitating, the person may be diagnosed as suffering from ________.

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The symptoms described are consistent with a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is characterized by intrusive thoughts or memories of a traumatic event, avoidance of triggers associated with the trauma, negative changes in mood and cognition, and heightened arousal and reactivity. Victims of sexual assault are at high risk for developing PTSD. Generalized anxiety disorder (A) is characterized by excessive and persistent worry about multiple areas of life, whereas panic disorder (B) is characterized by recurrent panic attacks and intense fear of having another panic attack. Social anxiety disorder (D) is characterized by intense fear and avoidance of social situations in which the person feels judged or evaluated by others. While anxiety and fear are common features of many mental health conditions, the specific symptoms and causes of the anxiety will differentiate between different diagnoses.

Victims of Sexual Assault May Experience Strong Stress Reactions, Intense