A 15-year-old was rescued from an underground hideout near Hermanus where she and a four-year-old had been kept captive for months by an alleged sexual predator.
How would a normal teenager react to such a horrific experience? And what can parents do to help? Health24 contacted the Trauma Centre in Cape Town for more information. Here are their comments.
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Possible reaction after the rescue
Individuals differ vastly in their responses to trauma. Their level of functioning, personality, the type and quality of care received prior to the traumatic event, are all determining factors in the way the individual will react after the trauma. Typical reactions include shock, confusion, bewilderment, fear, uncertainty, “like a deer caught in the headlights”.
After such a prolonged exposure to trauma (captive for 18 months, ongoing sexual abuse) the following reactions can be expected: social and emotional withdrawal, difficulty in communicating, sense of numbness or even detachment.
She might experience some or all of the following: dreams, intrusive thoughts about the trauma (can’t get it out of her head), flashbacks (as if a movie of the trauma is playing in her head), intense emotions when faced with reminders of the trauma, numbness, loss of interest in fun activities, regression (acting younger than her actual age), sleep difficulties, difficulty concentrating, irritability, impulsivity, a tendency to be easily startled, and a sense of constantly being on edge.
Possible reactions of parents/family
Relief and joy at realising their child is alive and is being returned to them. There will probably be an overwhelming urge/desire to hug and hold on to her, hold her close, not let her out of their sight, constantly reassuring themselves that she is really alive and with the family again.
The survivor might experience the reactions of the parents/family as overwhelming, and might want to distance or isolate herself from all the attention. This might create confusion and/or hurt for the family, because they might not understand her need for time and space to adjust.
She might have a misguided sense of loyalty towards the perpetrator that the family might struggle to understand. In order to survive the prolonged trauma of being held captive, she might have developed this “loyalty” as a way of protecting herself from further harm.
Main obstacles in the future
Adjusting to and reconnecting with her ‘old life’ could be a major obstacle. This includes schooling, family life and socialising with peers. She could experience a sense of belonging, and of feeling different to her peers (not “normal”).
She might struggle with finding a purpose, regaining a sense of control, power and choice. Regaining a sense of trust in herself, others and the world will be a challenge and in the long run this could adversely affect relationships. Depending on her pre-trauma functioning, her anger might manifest internally (leading to depression, anxiety) or externally (acting out behaviors such as drug-taking, promiscuity and other self-injurious behaviour).
Long-term challenges
She might struggle with a sense of identity and a sense of self. This might affect her coping abilities in general, e.g., educational challenges, maintaining healthy/functional relationships with family, peers and intimate partners. Sexual adjustment and sexual identity might present particular difficulties for her. Making meaning of the experience will be crucial in the healing process.
What can parents do?
It is important that the parents/family are supported during this experience. Support can take the form of counselling by professionals (such as trauma counselors, psychologists, social workers, spiritual leaders) and support groups. The support and understanding of friends, family and colleagues assist with the healing process.
When a parent is overwhelmed by their own feelings of sadness, anger and guilt it can be counterproductive as it may prevent the child from expressing their own feelings in order to protect the parent. Parents can assist their child by rebuilding family activities, setting firm but nurturing boundaries, establishing routines, allowing space and time for the child to verbalise their experience at their own pace. Parents need to be nurturing without over-indulging the child, and create a sense of safety without being over-protective.
In the case of this 14-year-old girl’s, a form of professional intervention is strongly recommended to assist her and her family with coming to terms with this horrific ordeal. People, especially children and adolescents, are extremely resilient and given sufficient support and time, it is likely that they will recover to live fruitful and socially active lives. Certainly these experiences will never be forgotten, and will shape their personalities and their views of life, but these can be integrated into a whole and successful way of life.
(Source: Trauma Centre for the Survivors of Violence and Torture. (021) 564 73 73)
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