The most common mental health problem experienced by people who have been victimized or abused is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD can result from exposure to trauma such as military combat, natural disasters, car accidents, physical or sexual assault, or childhood neglect or abuse. It affects around one percent of the population every year and can cause lasting psychological damage that impacts every aspect of life. People with PTSD may relive their trauma through flashbacks and nightmares, avoid situations or activities that trigger reminders of the event, and experience heightened anxiety and irritability. They may also suffer from sleep disturbances, depression, and low self-esteem. While there are treatments available for PTSD, they often require extensive therapy and medication which is expensive and time consuming. The effects of erasure within academic, medical, and cultural discourse can also lead to negative outcomes such as increased risk of developing PTSD symptoms among those who have experienced trauma related to sex, sexuality, intimacy, and relationships. Erasure is defined as the act of intentionally excluding someone or something from public view or consciousness. This can take many forms including ignoring, minimizing, silencing, censoring, denying, deleting, misrepresenting, or omitting. When this happens in relation to topics like sex, gender identity, and LGBTQ+ identities it has significant implications for individuals' mental health and wellbeing.
Next paragraph:
The process of erasure itself can be traumatic because it invalidates a person's lived experiences and makes them feel alone, isolated, unseen, and powerless. This can result in a range of emotions including confusion, shame, anger, guilt, fear, sadness, grief, and hopelessness. It can also lead to dissociation - an escape into another reality where one feels safe and understood - which can further disrupt normal functioning.
If a transgender person is erased by being denied access to medical care or social services, they may become so desperate that they turn to substance abuse or other unhealthy coping mechanisms. The consequences of erasure are not just limited to those who experience it directly but can also impact their families, friends, and communities. People whose identities or experiences are deemed unworthy of acknowledgement face stigma and discrimination, which contributes to ongoing marginalization and oppression. As such, erasure within academic, medical, and cultural discourse can have far-reaching effects on individual and collective psychological health.
What are the psychological consequences of erasure within academic, medical, and cultural discourse?
The consequences of erasure in academic, medical, and cultural discourses can be detrimental for individuals who identify with marginalized groups such as women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and immigrants. Erasure means that these groups' experiences, perspectives, and contributions are not acknowledged or valued by dominant society, which may lead to feelings of isolation, exclusion, and invalidation.