Post-traumatic stress responses are normal. Given the stress of the survival experience, almost every individual experience psychological stress. Meaning - don't look for underlying issues. Work with the trauma survivors must address the trauma as the main stressor. Survivors are able to use information about their experiences and post-traumatic stress responses to help themselves understand their experiences and reduce the impact of the traumatic event.
Survivors can recover from the trauma and live productive lives.
Certain coping skills can increase or decrease the intensity and frequency of post-traumatic consequences. The goal is management of psychological reactions, not elimination of reactions. All survivors of trauma have existing strengths and resources that are windows to recovery and healing. The most appropriate way to respond to all of these common emotions is to actively listen, use basic crisis intervention, and when they are ready, normalize their experience by explaining Rape Trauma Syndrome. The following are additional responses you might find helpful.