Last year, Kate was sexually assaulted. For weeks after the incident, Kate was afraid of nearly everything. She was unable to return to school for about a month. Although she has improved and returned to school, Kate still feels nervous and afraid sometimes, even though she is no longer in danger. Kate cannot seem to stop thinking about the assault. What mental illness or disorder is Kate experiencing? How does this affect her daily functioning?

Based on the symptoms described, Kate may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing a traumatic event like sexual assault. Symptoms of PTSD include persistent re-experiencing of the traumatic event through intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or nightmares, avoidance of reminders of the event, negative changes in mood and cognition, and heightened arousal and reactivity.

Kate's symptoms, such as feeling nervous and afraid, having difficulty returning to school, and being unable to stop thinking about the assault, align with the criteria for PTSD. These symptoms can significantly affect her daily functioning by causing distress, impairing her ability to concentrate, disrupting her sleep patterns, and impacting her relationships and academic performance. Additionally, the fear and anxiety Kate experiences, even though she is no longer in immediate danger, illustrate the lasting psychological impact of the trauma she endured. It's important for Kate to seek support from mental health professionals who can provide therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), to help her process the trauma and develop coping strategies to manage her symptoms.