However, studies show rape survivors have more severe PTSD, and a harder time overcoming it, than combat veterans.

While between 10 to 20 per cent of war vets develop the disorder, about 70pc of sexual assault victims experience moderate to severe distress, which is a larger percentage than for any other violent crime.

According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, symptoms of survivors who develop PTSD after a sexual assault may include; repeated thoughts of the assault, memories and nightmares, avoidance of thoughts, feelings, and situations related to the assault, negative changes in thoughts and feelings, increased arousal (e.g. difficulty sleeping and concentrating, jumpiness or irritability).

In one study, almost all of the female participants who were raped experienced these symptoms during the two weeks after the assault.

After nine months, about a third of the women still had these symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US (CDC), notes that one in five women and one in 71 men have reported being raped. Rates of sexual assault are generally higher when you look at certain groups of people.

For example, among patients at psychiatric hospitals, rates of sexual assault among women patients average around 38 per cent.

Per Dr Ananda Amstadter, associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University,  75pc of victims are attacked by someone they know, every person they meet and every situation they're in can feel dangerous, making sexual assault difficult to cope with.

An article by Linsey Burgess, in one of the largest digital media companies for women, Brit + Co states that for survivors of sexual assault, the odds of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are as high as 94pc.

For these survivors, day-to-day events like news about sexual assault are triggers that can hit a person’s psyche especially hard. Just like any mental health issue, PTSD can be debilitating.

The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress states that PTSD is a "normal human reaction to an abnormal situation" that affects our emotional make up.

According to Beverly Hills marriage and family therapist Golie Zarabi, a majority of people report trying to avoid those emotional thoughts, feelings, and situations that would remind them of the assault.

Individuals who have been diagnosed with PTSD after sexual assault often report of having flashbacks of the assault.

Many women report avoiding all intimacy, dating, or sexual contact so as not to trigger flashbacks.

When you go through something stressful, your body temporarily goes into "fight-or-flight" mode.

When the threat has passed, your body calms down.

But the traumatic experience, such as sexual assault, can cause your nervous system to become stuck in a state of high alert.

It can be extremely tough to admit that you were raped or sexually assaulted but when you stay silent you deny yourself help and reinforce your victimhood.

Therefore it is important to try and reach out to someone you trust. You can’t heal when you’re avoiding the truth and hiding only adds to feelings of shame.

If you don’t have someone you can trust then seek out and talk to a therapist or call a rape crisis hotline.

The trauma leaves you feeling powerless and vulnerable.

One of the best ways to reclaim your sense of power is by helping others. People suffering from sexual assault and PTSD may also consider joining a support group.

Support groups can help you feel less isolated and alone.

Survivors of sexual assault are often able to recover from PTSD through various psychological methods.

The National Institute of Mental Health, in the US, notes two forms of CBT.

One approach is called exposure therapy, which teaches survivors to defuse their trauma reactions by safely and gradually exposing themselves to situations, places and images that are known to trigger their symptoms.

The second approach, called cognitive restructuring, helps survivors understand triggering memories and view them in a new, health-supporting context. 

For support contact; 1800respect.org.au 1800 737 732, blueknot.org.au  1300 657 380, bravehearts.org.au  1800 272 831.