Patient’s Story 

You are Priya Kapoor, a 32-year-old woman. 

Opening Statement: Hi Doctor, I need to talk about something quite personal. Since something happened a few months ago, I’ve not been able to be intimate with my husband, we have not had sex at all, and it’s really affecting me.

You are here today because you’ve been feeling low and emotionally distant from your husband, especially when it comes to sex. You’ve not been able to have any sexual contact with him since a traumatic incident 8 months ago.

If asked further, you explain that 8 months ago, you attended a party with friends. You had a drink that you now believe was spiked, and later in the evening, you were raped by a guy at the party. You don’t remember parts of the evening, but you woke up the next morning with injuries and later realised you had been raped. 

You went to the police, and an investigation is ongoing. You have not had counselling or therapy so far, but you’re now at the point where you feel like you need help.

You love your husband and have always had a good relationship, but since the incident, you cannot bear the thought of being touched or having sex. You feel anxious, tense, and afraid when he tries to initiate anything. You sometimes experience flashbacks of what happened, and this has affected your mood. Your sleep and appetite are okay. 

You have told only your husband and one close friend about what happened. You feel a deep sense of shame, guilt, and like you are no longer yourself, even though you know it was not your fault.