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Sexual abuse in an immensely traumatizing event that can be life changing. Dealing with the aftermath of this type of trauma is no easy feat, but with the right tools, techniques, and support, it’s possible to move forward and heal. But what exactly is it?

It can refer to any sexual behavior forced upon others without their consent and can happen to anyone. It is an unlawful way of controlling, humiliating, and establishing authority or power over someone.

Warning Signs in Children and Adults

Though identifying signs of these incidents isn’t easy, there are warning signs one can look for. Here are some major warning signs to look out for:

• Physical signs:
  • Itching or pain in the genital area
  • Presence of bruises in the genital area
  • Bleeding from the external genital area
  • Having frequent nightmares or sleep disturbances
  • Having frequent stomach disorders without any specific reason
  • Frequent Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
  • Stained or torn undergarments
• Behavioral signs:
  • Issues with falling asleep
  • Fear of unknown people, places, or situations
  • Displaying infantile behaviors like bed-wetting or thumb-sucking
  • Displaying an abnormal interest in sex that’s inappropriate
  • Being preoccupied with their body or masturbating often
  • Using new terms to address their private body parts
  • Sexual activities with toys or other children
  • Children asking others to behave sexually
  • Children simulating sex with dolls
  • Overdependence on alcohol or substances
  • Lack of energy
  • Changes in sleep pattern and appetite
  • Anger outbursts and tantrums
• Emotional signs:
  • Unknown fear of certain people or places
  • Symptoms of depression or withdrawal
  • Sudden mood swings like fear, anger, rage
  • Bouts of anxiety around certain events
  • Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
  • Resorting to self-harm

The Different Types

Understand what exactly constitutes sexual assault is imortant in being able to idenity and deal with it or support someone you know who might be experiencing it. Here are common types:

• Rape - Rape refers to having forced sexual contact with someone. It means forcing sex on someone who did consent to it. This includes having sex with someone who is intoxicated or someone who is legally not old enough to give consent. Marital rape is often underreported and occurs between a married couple. In many countries, this is still not punishable by law. Date rape refers to sexual abuse that occurs in people who might have a romantic relationship. The ambit of rape is broad and covers many different types of forced intercourse.
• Incest - Insect refers to unwatned sexual contact between family members who are closely related, for example, an Uncle having sex with their niece. This can be especially difficult to report due to the familial relationship between the victim and the abuser.
• Child molestation - Any form of inappropriate sexual contact with a minor is referred to as child molestation. In many cases, a child is too young or ignorant to differentiate between what’s appropriate and inappropriate. They usually have no idea what’s happening to them. An abuser might demand sexual favors from a child by sweet-talking them or have obscene conversations or interactions with them.
• Non-consensual - As the name suggests, non-consensual sexual assault refers to the sexual contact that’s made without someone’s consent. It includes unwanted contact like groping, pinching, or inappropriate touching.
• Non-contact - There are forms of abuse that are not as widely discussed, such as non-contact sexual assault. These include incidents that don’t fit into a specific legal or psychological purview. Some common examples are:
  • Parents having sex in front of children
  • Making inappropriate sexual comments to children
  • Revenge pornography: distributing sexually explicit pictures or videos without a victim’s consent
  Dealing with these types of cases is quite tricky, but they can still have a large impact on the victim’s mental and physical well-being.

Common Psychological Issues it May Cause

Mental health issues are very common in survivors. According to the research conducted by the academics from the University College London (UCL), it found that 80% of girls who suffered from abuse went on to develop mental health issues.

Significant numbers of victims are also prone to suffering from symptoms of depression. It can cause them to feel a lack of ownership of their own body. They might feel shame, guilt, or fear. Some might even wrongly blame themselves for what happened. These feelings put them at a greater risk of developing mental health disorders.

Here are some common mental health issues survivors might suffer from:

• Depression - One major mental health disorder that affects victims is depression. It can lead to low self-esteem, hopelessness, and loneliness. The severity of it can be either mild or severe.
• Anxiety - The feeling of the invasion of a victim’s bodily autonomy can lead to anxiety or panic attacks. They might live in fear of the recurrence of the event or even develop agoraphobia from the incident.
• Personality disorders - Experiencing this type of trauma has also been linked to an increased risk of personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, particularly for those who experienced it in childhood.
• Post-traumatic stress disorders - PTSD is quite common in survivors of these incidents. It can lead to disruptive thoughts and flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts.
• Addiction - Addiction is quite common in people who have suffered from these experiences. They might use it as a coping mechanism to numb the pain or to self-medicate.
• Attachment issues - Victims might find it challenging to form healthy attachments and boundaries. This can be seen often in children, but can also be common in adults. This can cause them to develop attachment issues or form unhealthy attachments.

What Does Recovery Look Like?

The road to recovery can be a long one but it’s very much possible. Here’s what the process can look like:

• Coping with guilt and shame - The most important part of the recovery process is to feel and process the associated feelings. The survivors often feel a myriad of uncomfortable feelings like anger, numbness, shame, guilt, or fear.
  They often try to resist those feelings and emotions. But it’s important to feel those emotions. Once you do that, you can process it and let it go. Know that everything you feel is valid, and you don’t need to avoid it.
• Speak up about it - Suppressing or avoiding talking about the event might seem like a good idea but know that it only makes the matter worse. Instead of avoiding it, try talking about it with a trusted loved one or a therapist. Make sure to confide in people who understand and support you.
• Consult a professional as soon as possible - Avoiding trauma may seem like a natural response, as it’s a coping mechanism many people might use. Hence, you might need a therapist to help you break free from the thought patterns you have been engaging in.
  A therapist can provide you with a safe haven to open up about your issues. They can help you face your issues head-on by providing you with safe and effective coping techniques. When you feel ready to talk, seek out a therapist to help you through your recovery.
• Be prepared to process complex feelings - Having faced this traumatic experience, your body gets into a “fight or flight mode.” This can make you extremely sensitive to even the smallest of triggers. Hence, it’s important to be prepared to cope with things like flashbacks and nightmares.
  You need to identify and anticipate your triggers and then pay attention to your body's signals before it gets triggered. This can help you prepare better by using self-soothing techniques like deep breathing, meditation, etc. Mindfulness techniques can be extremely important to ground yourself in the present moment.

Find Help From a Licensed Therapist Who’s Right For You

Finding the right therapist is crucial when you or a loved one is dealing with this type of traumatic event. The right therapist is the one with whom you can establish a bond so that it becomes easy for you to open up about your issues. But this can take some time.

If you are struggling to form a connection with your therapist after multiple sessions, you can always switch to another provider. Easily choose from various specialists with different qualities to help you through your healing journey.

Schedule a Virtual Psychotherapy Appointment with a Counsellor Today

If you have been suffering from the effects of this traumatic event for quite some time, it might be time for you to consider getting help from a trusted therapist. DocVita has various specialists from different fields that can help you manage and cope with your symptoms. Simply hop on to DocVita and book your session today!