November 11, 2020

Sexual Abuse Effects and How to Recover from Them

Sexual abuse is one of the main contributing factors to cases of mental health and suicide. Several sexual crimes are defined under sexual abuse, including rape, child molestation, and sodomy.

Most of the victims find it hard to report the incidents because of fear of being judged or stigmatized, or they’ve repressed those memories. This often leaves them with the pain and trauma.

There are usually mental, physical, and emotional effects that come with sexual abuse, some of which the victims have to cope with by themselves. They include;

Mental Effects

• Anxiety- Victims may suffer severe anxiety, living with the fear that the abuse may happen again, and that may lead some victims to have panic attacks. It may also lead some to develop the fear of leaving their home or the type of people who abused them.

• Depression- This is one of the most common effects with the victims feeling hopeless and reducing their self-worth. Depression could be long term and mild, or long term and severe.

• Childhood trauma - If the victim was abused as a child, they might develop childhood trauma, which makes them feel threatened every time they are out in public, or when they see someone who resembles their abuser.

• Posttraumatic stress (PTSD) - Victims of sexual assault may have intense and clear memories of the events, which may disrupt their daily lives. Some may develop complex posttraumatic stress, which may lead to personality disruptions.

• Attachment issues- Victims abused either as children or adults may have problems forming close relationships with people around them and may also suffer in creating a sexual relationship with their spouse.

Physical Effects

• Pregnancy- Chances of the victims getting pregnant are increased by the fact that the abusers don’t use protection, and some victims may be scared of visiting a hospital.

• Sexually transmitted diseases- The fear of victims visiting a doctor also increases the chances of them contracting STIs. 

• Bruises and broken bones- Some abusers attack their victims, who may try to fight them off, leaving them injured and wounded.

• Bleeding and soreness- Since the abusers are normally forcing themselves on the victims, that may lead to vaginal bleeding and soreness.

Emotional Effects

Emotional trauma is one of the biggest effects of sexual assault and the hardest to recover from, and it includes effects like:

• Blame, guilt, and anger- Victims are left feeling angry and, in some cases, blaming themselves for the abuse, wondering if they would have done something to prevent it.

• Trust issues- It becomes so hard for the victims to trust people around them, especially those who resemble their abusers. That may make it hard for them to form romantic relationships later.

• Disorientation- Sometimes, with the memories of the incident, the victims may become disoriented, which may lead to a disassociation from people around them.

• Helplessness- Occasionally, victims may feel like since they have been abused, they are no longer as attractive or don’t deserve any love and affection, which may lead to self-hate and sometimes even suicidal thoughts.

• Fear

How to Heal

Healing from sexual assault may take a very long time, especially because not only does it entail physical healing, but also mental and emotional healing. Healing from emotional trauma is particularly hard, as memories of the incident are often re-lived and hard to forget.

Some of the ways you can heal include:

Talking about it

A problem shared is a problem half solved. Ensure that you tell your family or someone you trust about the incident immediately after it happens. They will help you get past the pain and even help you seek the medical and mental help you need.

Ensure that you also talk to them throughout your recovery journey because nothing helps you heal more than knowing that someone is always there for you whenever you need them.

Seek medical attention

Immediately after the abuse, you may have suffered some physical consequences. Visit a hospital and try explaining to them what happened.

Not only will they address your wounds, but they will also give you medications to ensure you do not contract any STIs or get pregnant. You can always count on your doctor’s confidentiality.

Seek mental health services

Mental and emotional issues are one of the hardest effects of sexual assault to heal from because some victims may still recall the incidence; again, re-living it over and over again. To help with that, ensure that you seek mental health services like a counselor or join a support group.

Your counselor will talk to you and give you advice on how to deal with your pain while encouraging you to talk about it, work through it in a healthy manner and move on with your life.

One thing that counseling helps you do is realize that you can't change the past, but you also can't let it define how the rest of your life is going to be. 

Support groups can help with healing as hearing the stories of other victims and seeing how much they have recovered, can give you the drive to get well. It can also offer a sense of peace that the sexual abuse wasn’t your fault.

Find something interesting to do

Get something you love doing to keep your mind from thinking and remembering the incident. You can use that as a way to channel your anger and pain and let it help you heal.

If you love painting, do it and let it reflect your pain and your healing process. If you love music or playing instruments, write songs and play the music that will help you get rid of the negative feelings, and don't be afraid to cry or even yell while doing it.

You can also choose to write about it, travel to new places, and make new friends, but ensure you do not bury yourself in your bed feeling worthless and hopeless.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the most effective ways to cope with the stress and anxiety that often accompanies sexual abuse trauma. You can either do vigorous exercises or meditative exercises like yoga that help you reconnect with yourself.

While at it, you can also take up karate, Tai Chi, or self-defense classes. Those skills will help you feel more in control of your life and, possibly, defend yourself if need be.