In her research on revenge porn and its mental health effects author Samantha Bates found that her sample reported symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Bates interviewed 18 female revenge porn survivors. Participants were 19 years or older, and had to self-identified as victims or survivors.
Findings
Bates stated:
“Rape survivors frequently experience PTSD, anxiety, and depression, all of which participants in this study experienced”. (pg 39)
Bates found two main themes in her interview content. The first was mental health and the second was coping
mechanisms.
Mental Health was divided into three sub themes.
1 Trust issues – nearly all participants discussed a general loss of trust in others
2. PTSD, anxiety, and depression;
3 Self-esteem, confidence, and loss of control.
Coping Mechanisms had two subthemes
1 Negative coping mechanisms
2 Positive coping mechanisms.
Negative coping mechanisms ranged from excessive drinking of alcohol, obsessing over one’s victimization, attempting to avoid thinking about revenge porn and pretending they had not been victimized. [ Authors note: all of these are also symptoms of PTSD]
Positive coping mechanisms included speaking out and helping others, relying on family or friends, and focusing on moving on. The most common positive coping was seeing a counsellor or therapist.
Changes in coping mechanisms
Participants generally engaged in negative coping mechanisms, such as denial and self-medicating, closer to when they were victimized, and turned to positive coping mechanisms, such as seeking counselling, as time passed.
Therapy for PTSD, Depression and Anxiety
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of a traumatic experience such as revenge porn, if you think you may have PTSD it’s important to seek help from a qualified mental health professional. At the Centre for Clinical Psychology in Melbourne, our team of experienced psychologists can provide trauma-focused therapy and other evidence-based treatments to support your recovery.
Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD is a therapy that has a particular focus on trust issues, self-esteem, confidence and loss of control.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for depression and anxiety has been demonstrated to be very effective.
At the Centre for Clinical Psychology we spend time understanding the complexities of your situation and can develop an individualized plan to assist you. We are committed to providing compassionate and personalized care to each of our clients, and we believe that everyone has the potential to heal and grow from even the most challenging experiences. To book an appointment at the Centre for Clinical Psychology, please call us on 03 9077 0122 or visit our website at https://ccp.net.au/booking/. We look forward to supporting you on your journey to recovery from trauma.
References
Bates, S. (2017). Revenge Porn and Mental Health: A Qualitative Analysis of the Mental Health Effects of Revenge Porn on Female Survivors. Feminist Criminology, 12(1), 22-42. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557085116654565
Resick, P. A., Monson, C. M., & Chard, K. M. (2016). Cognitive processing therapy for PTSD: A comprehensive manual. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
