![]() Support can help you get clearer on what the root cause really is. Many difficult childhood experiences can result in similar symptoms. The symptoms above are comprehensive, but note that it’s not just sexual abuse which leads to these sign of trauma. It’s better to first seek support to help you process what you are dealing with, and then make big decisions from a stable and secure place. You might even in the process alienate yourself from other family and friends whose support you count on, right when you need them most. You will be doing this from a vulnerable place, and can put yourself at risk of attack and manipulation. It is highly advised you don’t react by immediately contacting and accusing all the people who might have abused you. If you do suspect you were sexually abused as a child, you might find yourself suddenly experiencing overwhelming waves of anger and fury. The connection is so high that some psychologists debate if these disorders exist at all or are really just manifestations of trauma, with some calling to rebrand BPD as complex trauma. Do you feel you might also suffer from some of the following?Īnd finally, sexual abuse is linked to the manifestation of certain personality disorders, in particular borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. The trauma of sexual abuse leads to many other psychological issues. feeling oddly dirty or itchy all the time.feeling totally disconnected from your body.constant low grade illnesses like cold and flu.constantly using innuendo in conversation.īy: Rie H Physical symptoms from being abuse as a childīeing sexually abused as a child or adolescent can lead to physical symptoms such as:.having sexual fantasies where you are abused or raped.needing to escape into fantasy in order to enjoy sex.dissociation during sex (like you ‘leave your body’ and watch from above).being a ‘pleaser’ sexually and not knowing what you really want.Do you recognise yourself in the following? Sexual abuse as a child can also really affect the way you approach sex. attracting those with traits of narcissism or NPD.You might also constantly attract relationships which ‘re-enact’ abuse. trouble setting boundaries and saying no.Healthy relationships tend to be very challenging if you experienced sexual abuse as a child. not liking certain places/situations/smells/sounds without knowing why.vigilance – more jumpy with noises and surprises than others are.Trauma symptomsīeing sexually abused as a child can cause long-term symptoms of trauma, now called ‘ complex post-traumatic stress disorder‘ or ‘c-PTSD’. It can even effect your physical wellbeing. Sexual abuse can cause long-term issues in your behaviours, relationships, and sex life, as well as in the ways you treat yourself. So have I been sexually abused? Knowing the signs And we carry this coping mechanism into adulthood. So ‘forgetting’ becomes your brain’s way of surviving and coping. A wiped out memory for certain parts of your childhood can be an indicator trauma of some form took place.Ĭhildren can’t just walk away if they find themselves in a difficult or terrifying situation. Victims of sexual abuse often do not remember the experience. Wouldn’t I remember if I was sexually abused as a child? Again, such examples can both result in the same long-term symptoms as other forms of sexual abuse. Or a mother who strips a child and makes them stand naked in their room for hours as ‘punishment’ for ‘being bad’. Sexual abuse can can be any situation where a child is exploited for the sexual pleasure of another.Ĭalled ‘non contact’ or ‘covert’ sexual abuse, this can look like someone who constantly exposed their body to you, forced you to expose your body, showed you pornography, or constantly talked about sexual things to you.Įxamples of covert abuse are a father who always talks about a daughter’s body ‘being too sexual’ when she is going through puberty. ![]() ![]() It is now recognised that sexual abuse does not even have to involve physicality to be extraordinarily damaging to a child and the future adult they will become. It can be an older sibling or another child who abuses you. In fact definitions of child sexual abuse have recently been updated.įirst of all, sexual abuse does not have to be between a child and a ‘grownup’. ![]() It’s important to understand what qualifies as sexual abuse before dismissing an experience you might have had as ‘not a big deal’. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that 7.5% of British adults experienced some form of sexual abuse before the age of 16.Īnd real rates might be higher, given that it’s also thought around a third of children abused by an adult tell no one. Suspect you were sexually abused as a child? You are far from alone. ![]()
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