I'm just an ordinary girl studying at a technical college. Recently, two incidents have plunged me into deep distress, making it impossible to focus on my studies.I hope you can help me. The first incident happened during the May Day holiday when I returned home. One night, around midnight, four thieves broke into our house by prying open the door. My parents, who are light sleepers, vaguely heard noises in the outer room and went to investigate. They stumbled upon the thieves and got into a fight with them. The thieves outnumbered my parents and were armed with weapons. My father was stabbed three times, and my mother was stabbed once.I was awakened by the sounds of their struggle and screams. Opening the door, the first thing I saw was blood everywhere on the floor, followed by the sight of my father covered in blood. I immediately called the police, and the thieves fled in panic. My parents were rushed to the hospital for treatment and are now out of danger.You'd think it was over after that. But ever since, I've been terrified at night. I can't sleep no matter what. The moment I close my eyes, I see blood everywhere—on the bed, on the floor, all over Dad. Even when I finally fall asleep, I often wake up in the middle of the night, startled by the slightest sound, and then can't get back to sleep for ages. It got so bad that I couldn't even sleep alone anymore. Every time I woke up, my mind would race with all sorts of thoughts.I'm terrified this will lead to depression. The second incident involves my school. In my class, I became close friends with a girl who looked very much like a boy. We often chatted, played, and did everything together. Because of what happened at home, I asked her to sleep with me. Since she adored Jay Chou, I gave her a ring for her birthday—the same kind Jay wore in his MTV video when he was wielding nunchucks.But because of these things, classmates started spreading rumors about us, saying we were lesbians. They kept trying to stop us from hanging out, even setting a rule that we could only say 10 words to each other per week. Plus, classmates constantly shunned me, refusing to acknowledge me or talk to me. It broke my heart. Exams are coming up soon, but this whole situation has messed up my study plans and my mood. What should I do?
Wu Li, Huangshan, Anhui
Dear Wu Li:
It’s deeply regrettable that your May Day holiday was marred by such a traumatic experience. For a young girl like you in vocational school, this undoubtedly constitutes severe psychological trauma. Most people who endure such profound emotional distress exhibit psychological reactions similar to yours—a condition known as "post-traumatic stress reaction."Natural and man-made disasters—from earthquakes, floods, fires, accidents, and wars to serious illnesses or marital breakdowns—can inflict severe psychological trauma on anyone. These reactions are categorized into acute and protracted responses.Acute psychogenic reactions typically occur within minutes or days after major psychological shock. Your case, however, falls under chronic psychogenic reactions, also known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition often emerges some time after the traumatic event. Its defining features include: - Repeatedly reliving the traumatic experience, where the event vividly and realistically reappears in your mind.Simultaneously, traumatic scenes replay in dreams, often manifesting as recurring nightmares. Individuals may cry out in their sleep or awaken startled by terrifying visions. They become like "a bird startled by a bowstring," where even the slightest sound in their surroundings can send shivers down their spine.Emotionally, they may feel persistently gloomy and agitated, sometimes experiencing uncontrollable outbursts of anger. They often withdraw from social interactions, avoiding people and social activities, becoming reclusive and eccentric. While these symptoms may superficially resemble depression, they are not depression. Therefore, you need not worry about developing depression.Generally, as time passes, most psychogenic reactions subside. Only a minority of patients may experience lingering symptoms like insomnia, headaches, emotional volatility, or memory impairment. Treatment primarily involves supportive psychotherapy, including family and social support. The prognosis is significantly influenced by your personality. Therefore, it's essential to cultivate a stable character and strong willpower.Regarding the second matter you mentioned, my advice is to let them talk. Their mouths are attached to their own bodies—how can you control what they say? What business is it of theirs if you and she share a same-sex relationship? It's important to note that even if you are in a same-sex relationship, this alone does not make you "bad people" (nor does it mean you have a mental illness), especially since it's still unclear whether that is the case.(Expert: Yang Huayu) (The above content is exclusively authorized for use by Family Doctor Online. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.)