Healing from Sexual Abuse: The Power of Trauma Therapy

Content Warning: Please be advised, that the following article on sexual abuse and trauma therapy mentions topics that could be triggering to the reader. It may help to read in stages and give yourself privacy. Please remember to be gentle with yourself.

The Impacts of Sexual Abuse

Before discussing the role of trauma therapy in healing from sexual abuse, please note RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) defines sexual abuse as "unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, threats, or taking advantage of victims who are unable to give consent." Sexual violence and sexual assault are other terms for sexual abuse.

If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, please know that it is not and was not your fault. The intention of this article is to validate your feelings and experiences, offer hope, and remind you that you are not alone.

The NSVRC states that choosing to violate another person is not about “drinking too much,” “trying to have a good time,” or ”getting carried away,” nor is it about the clothes someone was wearing, how they were acting, or what type of relationship they have with the person who abused them. Violating another person is a choice.

According to the CDC, more than half of women and one in four men have experienced sexual violence or trauma. Additionally, four out of five women report that the abuse or violence occurred before they turned 25.

The statistics are alarmingly high, but it should never happen and if you are reading this because it did, from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry. If you are unsure whether what happened to you constitutes abuse or assault, please know that if you did not give consent or if you felt unsafe or uncomfortable, it was not okay. There is no excuse for it. Sometimes, in an

attempt to avoid discomfort, we may rationalize or excuse the behavior, but this only delays our healing process.

Sexual abuse is a form of trauma. It can have profound and lasting effects on a person's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Survivors of sexual abuse may experience a range of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, Hypervigilance, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), low self-esteem, feelings of guilt or shame, difficulties in relationships, and physical symptoms such as chronic pain, sleep disturbances, or eating disorders. These symptoms vary, and there isn't one 'typical' way people respond to trauma.

How Trauma Therapy Can Help

Trauma therapy can be incredibly helpful for survivors of sexual abuse in validating their emotions, processing their experiences, managing symptoms, and promoting healing. Even if you think “Well my experience wasn’t that bad, I am fine”. Working with a therapist can give you a voice and free you from any blockage the abuse may be causing, even if you aren’t mindful of it.

When someone experiences sexual harm, the traumatic event can get "stuck" in the brain so that the past remains the present. Therapy can help rewire our brains so that survivors can heal and move forward in their lives.

"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk is foundational work in the field of trauma and trauma recovery. The book informs us of all the ways that trauma affects the body and mind. So often trauma responses become someone’s “normal” and it isn’t until therapy that someone may understand the harm the trauma has done to their body and mind. In his book, he shares how trauma therapy can help:

● Understanding the effects of trauma: Therapy helps individuals understand how the trauma has impacted their bodies, brains, and emotions. This understanding can be empowering and can reduce feelings of shame or self-blame. The way you are feeling- is not your fault and a trauma-informed therapist can bring this to light for you.

• ●  Regulating emotions: Trauma can dysregulate your nervous system. This leads to difficulties in regulating our emotions. Therapy helps individuals learn skills to regulate these emotions, such as mindfulness, breathing techniques, and grounding exercises. This can be in regular day-to-day life or after a triggering event.

• ●  Processing traumatic memories: Therapy provides a safe space for individuals to process and make sense of traumatic memories. This process can reduce the emotional intensity and intrusiveness of these memories. It may feel scary but you get to decide how much and when you share with a therapist. Your first sessions with a therapist may be just getting to know this other human! That is ok.

• ●  Addressing dissociation: Many trauma survivors experience dissociation, a coping mechanism in which they disconnect from their thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. Trauma therapy helps individuals become more aware of when this happens and how to reconnect to their bodies and experiences.

• ●  Building a sense of safety: Trauma can disrupt a person's sense of safety. Trauma therapy helps individuals rebuild this sense of safety, both internally (feeling safe within oneself) and externally (feeling safe in relationships and environments). Research shows how powerful positive relationships can be in healing the brain from trauma.

• ●  Developing coping strategies: Therapy teaches individuals healthy coping strategies to manage stress and triggers related to their trauma. These strategies can include changing our thought patterns, setting boundaries, self-care practices, and seeking support from others.

• ●  Reconnecting with the body: Trauma can lead to a disconnection from the body. Trauma therapy helps individuals reconnect with their bodies through breathing practices or body-centered psychotherapy. Along with this, trauma therapists can guide you in improving your relationship with sex.

Trauma Therapy can help you feel whole again. All the different parts of you, are back in sync.

Trauma therapy is a healing process that encompasses the integration of the mind, body, and emotions. It is a collaborative journey between the therapist and the individual, with a focus on developing resilience and restoring a sense of wholeness.

In addition to trauma therapy, survivors of sexual abuse may find Group Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy beneficial in their healing journeys.

Group therapy provides social support for survivors. It provides a sense of community and a safe place to belong and feel heard. These sessions are facilitated by trained therapists and clients can share experiences with other survivors. In group therapy, you will hear stories of other survivors who have healed and recovered from similar experiences. Knowing that others have overcome similar challenges can provide hope and inspiration.

EMDR is a type of psychotherapy that uses rapid eye movements to reduce the power of traumatic events in your mind. To learn more about what to expect in an EMDR session, click here.

There is Hope

Although the effects of trauma are challenging and harmful, there is hope for healing and recovery. Trauma therapy can provide a sense of hope for survivors by offering a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their experiences and emotions.

Therapy can also help survivors feel less alone when they are working with a compassionate and understanding therapist. At JoyFeel Therapy, we specialize in trauma therapy and EMDR therapy. We provide a gentle, safe, and predictable space for those who have experienced sexual abuse or assault to heal at their own pace and in their way.

Healing from sexual abuse is an individual process, and therapy respects this by allowing survivors to set their boundaries and timelines for recovery. Your therapist will work with you to create a treatment plan that meets your specific needs. With the support of therapy, it is possible to overcome the impact of trauma, feel empowered, and at peace, and build a life that feels fulfilling and happy.

Please remember:

You are not alone.

You are not to blame for sexual abuse, assault, or harassment, no matter the circumstances.

To schedule a meeting with a trauma-informed therapist at JoyFeel Therapy, click here. For immediate help, please see the resources below:

• ●  National Sexual Assault Hotline: Call 1-800-656-4673

• ●  National Child Abuse Hotline: Call 1-800-422-4453

• ●  RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): RAINN is the largest anti-sexual

  violence organization in the United States. Visit their website at www.rainn.org for information, resources, and support.

  References:

• -  Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin Books.

• -  https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/sexual-abuse

• -  https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/fastfact.html

• -  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7239557/

• -  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01612840.2019.1677830

• -  https://www.nsvrc.org/survivors