Expressive Writing Therapy as A Medium For Assisting PTSD Patients in Victims of Child Sexual Abuse to Reduce Anxiety Levels

Abstract

PTSD (Post Trauma Dissorder) is a mental disorder that can develop after exposure to a highly threatening or terrifying event, a single trauma, or from prolonged exposure to trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse. This study aims to see expressive writing therapy effectively used as a psychotherapeutic medium in reducing anxiety levels in PTSD victims of child sexual abuse. Expressive writing therapy is a form of writing therapy that expresses thoughts, emotions, and spirituality as a means of communication with oneself and developing thinking and awareness. This research method uses qualitative research methods with 13 subjects. Measurement of anxiety levels using a scale in DASS. The results showed a decrease of 40.23% in the anxiety assessment indicators of PTSD patients who were victims of child sexual abuse in the implementation of therapy for two months. The results of this study indicate that expressive writing therapy is effectively used as a psychotherapeutic medium in reducing anxiety levels in PTSD patients who are victims of child sexual abuse.