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Why is it that people react differently to traumatic experiences? I got PTSD after being raped, Does this make me weak?

14 Answers
Last Updated: 09/27/2021 at 8:00am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United Kingdom
Moderated by

Tanyia Hughes, Adv Dip Psy

Psychotherapist

I have been through a lot in life too, which helps me to be able to empathize with situations, thoughts and feelings that we have. Sometimes, it's not easy just being human.

Top Rated Answers
Estherrrr
February 4th, 2015 6:26pm
Being raped and getting PTSD afterwards does not make you in anyway weak. The fact that you survived a traumatic experience completely disproves any implications of you being weak. People just handle things differently. Somethings that come easy to you may not come easy to others and vice versa.
EmmaV
- Expert in Domestic Violence
February 6th, 2015 3:27am
As someone who's been there and felt weak I can tell you that your feeling is normal but it is wrong. You are not weak. You faced something horrific and your brain is struggling to process it. This results in flashbacks and other symptoms which we group together and label ptsd. It is not a sign of weakness, being here through all that you've faced goes to show that you are in fact very very strong.
Anonymous
June 8th, 2015 6:20pm
People react differently because we are all different. I to got PTSD from being raped and this does not make you weak. PTSD is a minds way of protecting itself in an extreme matter, it is not weak, it is human.
Anonymous
July 20th, 2015 11:56pm
It definitely doesn't mean you're weak! Traumatic experiences influence people's minds in different ways. Depending on past experiences, or just ways of coping, it can vary the reaction.
optimisticPeace71
April 18th, 2015 9:14am
No that does not make you weak. I also got PTSD after being raped and two years after the incident I still struggle with PTSD. You are not weak my friend, very strong because you're still standing. Everyone reacts differently to different experiences. It's unfair to compare yourself to other people.
Riss8456
July 13th, 2015 8:44pm
No it does not make you weak. Everyone copes and perceives/experiences events differently. Sometimes the impacts are not always immediate and they may develop issues later on. Everyone deals with mental health differently.
Anonymous
August 4th, 2015 11:07pm
I am not totally sure why people react differently to traumatic experiences. Getting PTSD after being raped does NOT make you weak. It means that your mind is trying to protect you from being hurt again. I was in a car accident, and it took me forever to be able to be alright with being in a vehicle. Some things you can get past. I would highly recommend seeking a professional counselor to try and help you work on those obstacles.
Sauce22
November 2nd, 2015 5:16am
No it does not make you weak, people have different tolerances to physical pain and emotionally and what might be a really big to you not appear as important to someone else. PTSD does not make you weak, it just mean's you've been really hurt from a terrible experience that you've had to go through.
SunnyVictoria
June 20th, 2016 11:46am
No... Different people react to sexual abuse in different ways, for some people it is the case they don't understand. Sometimes they have a good support network and work with family and peers to overcome the grief. Some develop PTSD...and some people even embrace the abuse or allow it to become a part of them, they can develop a favour to be treated indecently or even re enact the acts inflicted upon them with future partners because it might feel safer or more familiar than intimacy. EVERYONE reacts to rape differently. It is a traumatic thing to experience and it is entirely understandable to experience PTSD or any of the aforementioned reactions or coping mechanisms. It is important to reach out to support networks when we are not feeling strong and remember that nobody just "gets over" trauma without a struggle first.
RJordan
July 19th, 2016 8:13pm
Everyone's mind and emotions are unique, so we don't all respond the same, even if we experience the same thing. What is traumatic for one person may not be as difficult for another, and vice versa. That does not make one person weak and the other person strong, their minds and emotions just process differently. Getting PTSD does not make you weak. You survived and you are dealing with the affect it has had on you. That makes you strong.
Anonymous
October 17th, 2016 3:35am
Of course not! It 1st depends on how tramautic the experience was (though I'll make an assumption it was awful) and 2nd it depends on what happened and how strong your brain was
Anonymous
April 24th, 2018 12:50am
People can react differently to traumatic events while you end up getting post traumatic stress disorder after being raped because everyone was given a different challenge to be in and this is why how they end up becoming after it will be different than the other person.
Anonymous
June 29th, 2020 2:31pm
No, this does not make you weak. If anything, it will make you cautious to people you may think are a threat to you. People to react differently, but there is no right or wrong way to react. It is normal to feel that way after such an experience, but in the end, you are stronger because you survived it and you can still live up to your potential today. Having this experience, you can heal from it and potentially help others who have gone through the same things. Many people do not know how to get through that kind of experience. When you get through it, you can be help to others
Larry70
September 27th, 2021 8:00am
Absolutely not! Whatever happened during the rape, if you survived it then you did the right thing. All people are different in their reactions to events. Also, a lot of people deny their feelings after something like a rape and they act like it was not a big deal when in fact inwardly it was. Rape is very traumatic-it is an invasion of your body and it often ends up as PTSD. You can eventually get over it somewhat with therapy or maybe joining a group. It will take work over time to put it in a proper perspective. But you are definitely not weak!