Here’s why survivors of sexual trauma sometimes gravitate toward prenatal vitamins specifically, rather than other supplements:

1. Symbolic and emotional meaning:

• Connection to potential life: Prenatal vitamins are strongly tied to pregnancy and nurturing a baby. Even if you aren’t pregnant, taking them can unconsciously symbolize hope, protection, or the desire to care for something vulnerable—sometimes a way to process trauma.
• Reclaiming agency over fertility: After rape, feelings of vulnerability regarding your body and reproductive system are common. Prenatal vitamins can feel like a way to assert some control over your reproductive health.
• Ritualized self-care: The act of taking a “pregnancy-related” vitamin can be a small, symbolic step toward healing, as though you’re actively protecting yourself from what you fear most.

2. Psychological coping:

• Anxiety management: Fear of unintended pregnancy is very common after rape. Prenatal vitamins may serve as a “safety ritual,” giving the mind something concrete to do to prevent or prepare for the possibility, even if there’s no actual risk.
• Sense of preparedness: Trauma can create a strong drive to be ready for worst-case scenarios. Prenatal vitamins are an easy, tangible action that reassures the brain you’re taking steps to protect life and health.

3. Subconscious comfort:

• The association with pregnancy and life can provide a nurturing feeling, almost like self-soothing. It’s a small way of compensating for feelings of helplessness or violation.

So, the choice isn’t random—it’s a mix of symbolic meaning, anxiety management, and regaining control over your body.