Previously published in Hospital News, Focus: Ambulatory
Care, Nephrology, Mental Health and Addiction
Sally is a working mother who was sexually abused as a child by
her teacher. When her daughter was about to begin school, Sally
started experiencing flashbacks of her childhood abuse. She became
anxious and depressed, could not concentrate at work or sleep. She
began drinking excessively, had trouble managing her anger and
problems arose in her marriage. She sought therapy through her EAP
program at work. The therapy seemed to be helping until her male
therapist sexually propositioned her. Sally experienced this as
very confusing and as a betrayal of her trust. She felt
overwhelmed, helpless and attempted suicide by overdose. She was
brought by ambulance to the emergency department and, after her
physical condition stabilized, was admitted to the hospital's
psychiatry ward for treatment.
