What Is Sexual Abuse Trauma?
How Can Sexual Abuse Trauma Affect Mental Health?
Sexual abuse can often have psychological effects on the survivor. Some of the most common symptoms of abuse trauma can appear right after the assault or even years after the incident.
The most common symptoms can include:
- Anxiety or constant worry
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Fear and low mood
- Anger, irritability, or sadness
- Shame, guilt, or embarrassment
- Loss of trust or sense of vulnerability
- Numbness or detachment
- Difficulty concentrating or recalling certain things
- Sleep disturbances or nightmares
- Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts
The symptoms listed above might not necessarily present in a PTSD diagnosis. The conditions following sexual assault can vary from person to person.
How Can Sexual Abuse Trauma Affect Physical Health?
The physical health of the survivor can also be negatively impacted by the experience they went through. The effects might not be present right away and can develop weeks or even months after the assault.
The most common symptoms can include headaches, muscle pain, fatigue, insomnia, poor eating habits, and various other stress-induced issues. When it comes to the physical health effects of trauma, a lot depends on an individual’s unique physiology.
Anyone whose physical health considerably deteriorated after the assault should consult a medical professional to rule out possible conditions.
How Can Sexual Abuse Trauma Affect Everyday Life?
Trauma can considerably impact the survivor’s day-to-day life. The survivor might start avoiding certain situations and places because they remind them of the assault. Their perception of reality can significantly change, and they might become agitated around specific words or topics.
The survivor might have a hard time maintaining relationships, working, studying, or functioning in general. Some of the symptoms can develop long after the assault, and the survivor might not necessarily realize that it is connected to the experience.
In some cases, the distress can appear abruptly when the survivor least expects it. Everything depends on an individual and the circumstances of their assault.
How Can Sexual Abuse Trauma Be Different in Every Individual?
Every survivor deals with the aftermath of the assault in their own way. One person might have difficulty recalling the experience, while the other might remember too many gruesome details; one person might feel detached, while the other can be overly aggressive and hostile.
It is entirely normal for the survivor to feel a mixture of negative emotions or for them to feel nothing altogether. In any case, the survivor should not be blamed for their actions or feelings because it can be utterly traumatizing for them.
When Should Someone Talk to a Therapist About Sexual Abuse Trauma?
Anyone, regardless of age and background, should consider speaking to a specialist if trauma starts interfering with their daily life or if they feel like they cannot cope on their own.
A competent professional can suggest a series of measures to help the survivor come to terms with the assault and explain the situation without shaming them.
The best part is that an appropriate therapist can help the survivor process the traumatic experience in a controlled environment.
Speaking with someone outside of one’s head can be a big step in the healing process.
If someone is ever considering harming themselves or if someone is already harming themselves, they need to reach out to an appropriate support service immediately for help.
