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Common Impacts of Sexual Abuse
Everyone reacts and copes with their experiences differently and there is no right or wrong way.
We’re all different and we all experience different symptoms and reactions following a sexual assault. It may, however, be helpful to know that your responses are common and normal for your situation.
How sexual abuse or assault affects you depends on a lot of things including:
People who otherwise have a good life with lots of social support, are more likely to be able to recover relatively well from the effects of abuse and trauma. Those who have other chronic stressors might find it more difficult.
We’re all different and we all experience different symptoms and reactions following a sexual assault. It may, however, be helpful to know that your responses are common and normal for your situation.
How sexual abuse or assault affects you depends on a lot of things including:
- Whether you were threatened with violence
- Whether you knew the offender
- What the assault involved
- What happened when you told
- What help you got at the time.
People who otherwise have a good life with lots of social support, are more likely to be able to recover relatively well from the effects of abuse and trauma. Those who have other chronic stressors might find it more difficult.
Below is a list of some of the more common impacts survivors may experience:
Immediate Symptoms
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Longer Term Symptoms
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Common Impacts for Children
Signs and symptoms of sexual abuse are not always easy to identify and all children vary in their reactions.
Although there may be some obvious physical effects, the less obvious psychological ones are also worth understanding.
In addition to the effects and responses listed above; there are others that specifically relate to children. They include:
Although there may be some obvious physical effects, the less obvious psychological ones are also worth understanding.
In addition to the effects and responses listed above; there are others that specifically relate to children. They include:
- Children’s self-esteem being affected by sexual abuse
- Developing a negative image of themselves and/or having low self-worth
- Children who are sexually abused often blame themselves. This belief is planted and encouraged by the offenders as it helps to ensure the victims don’t tell anyone about the sexual abuse
- Children who experience sexual abuse often lose their trust in adults and feel powerless. They frequently experience sadness, anger, feelings of isolation, problems with trusting people and difficulties in building or maintaining safe and healthy relationships
- Children who experience sexual abuse may find it difficult to concentrate at school. They can be anxious, depressed, hostile/self-destructive behaviours or may behave sexually inappropriate.
Another possible impact for children is that they may regress to a seemingly younger age that may bring about sleep problems, bed-wetting or clinginess.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder In Children
Trauma is an identifiable experience that was so overwhelming or life threatening that it destroys trust or prevents trust from happening again in relationships.
Post Traumatic Stress or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a series of symptoms (related to the traumatic event) that are still being experienced for some time (months, years) after the threat has passed.
Post Traumatic Stress or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a series of symptoms (related to the traumatic event) that are still being experienced for some time (months, years) after the threat has passed.
Some of these symptoms could include:
- Flashbacks (feeling like you are reliving the event again and again)
- Avoiding anything or anyone that reminds you of what happened
- Sleep disturbances
- Frequent ‘zoning out’
- Difficulty concentrating
- Always being on alert (hypervigilance).
Help Is Available
You do not have to figure out how to manage these responses, feelings or reactions on your own.
HELP’s counsellors can support you and help you understand what is happening.
Research shows that the sooner you get appropriate support for yourself, like seeing a specialist counsellor, the better your chances are of healing.
It is normal to feel scared or uncertain about counselling, so take time to find someone that you feel connected with and who and is experienced in helping people in this situation.
Learn more about what HELP’s Therapy Services has to offer.
HELP’s counsellors can support you and help you understand what is happening.
Research shows that the sooner you get appropriate support for yourself, like seeing a specialist counsellor, the better your chances are of healing.
It is normal to feel scared or uncertain about counselling, so take time to find someone that you feel connected with and who and is experienced in helping people in this situation.
Learn more about what HELP’s Therapy Services has to offer.
