Sexual assault/abuse and associated trauma
******(This can be upsetting or triggering - so please proceed with caution)
Victims of sexual assault or abuse often go through not only physical pain but can also experience mental and emotional pain as well. Each individual response is unique in its severity. While some people experience severe and chronic symptoms and issues others may experience little to no distress.
Sexual abuse/trauma is often times hidden away and never spoken about. Sometimes when it is spoken about the victims are not heard or taken seriously, or their statements are misconstrued or taken out of context.
At first the survivor may feel shock, fear, anxiety, confusion, and they may withdraw. Some may feel shame or guilt thinking it was somehow their fault.
There could be:
Depression - feelings of sadness, hopelessness or general unhappiness.
Flashbacks - which may be triggered by a tone of voice, a smell, something in the room, that makes the person feel as though the sexual violence is happening again.
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) which may include:
-Dreams or difficulty sleeping.
-Being on edge and/or having sudden outbursts.
-Substance abuse
-Eating disorders
-Low sex drives
-High risk sexual behavior
-Suicidal thoughts/threats
Are you still hanging onto the emotional attachments to sexual assault or abuse?
It is possible to release the emotional attachments to the events, experiences and memories, so that only the memory remains. You no longer respond as if you are in that situation. The emotions and body stress are no longer triggered by the memory. There are many layers to this healing, but so worth it.
I too experienced sexual assault in my life time and am so grateful to have had Tapping. Tapping has allowed me to be able to let go of the emotional attachments to this trauma. Once we can let go of the emotional attachments that have been stuck in our subconscious from the trauma, we are then able to have different perspectives, see other options. We can begin to work on and release the coping behaviors that we may have used to calm the intense internal stress that we may have been feeling.
Like I said earlier, every individual has their own unique experience of how they cope with sexual trauma.
The mental health of individuals and how deeply affected people are, depends also on their community resources and if they had supportive family and intimate partners. Being seen and heard is also a huge part, as it takes a lot of courage to come forward in the first place. So whether you decide to come forward to report a perpetrator or not, that is up to you. If nothing else, I believe it is so crucial for your own mental health and well being that you actually seek help and guidance to work through the trauma for yourself. This trauma can affect so many parts of your life, I encourage you to let go of the ties that bind you and to be free from the stress and pain.
If you would like to know more please contact me Marnel@inciteinspirations.com or go to https://inciteinspirations.com/book to book a 10 minute complimentary telephone consultation or your first Discovery Session.
Here are just a few other organizations to reach out for help:
https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres-crisis-lines-and-support-services/
https://www.rainn.org
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/sexual-abuse-other-places-to-get-help.aspx
https://victimconnect.org/resources/national-hotlines/
https://www.sace.ca
Take Care of You! You are Worth It!