Each and every day, as we cross paths with countless other people, we’re also crossing paths with the past experiences that shaped those people. Thus, when some of our interactions seem to go inexplicably bad, it’s useful to ponder how many folks have endured childhood trauma. In particular, childhood sexual abuse is a deep wound with the potential to cause serious and long-term psychological effects.
Children who endure such nightmarish treatment are often diagnosed with conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders. Unless and until these issues are effectively addressed, they will influence much of any trauma survivor’s behaviors. This post will offer an overview of how to identify such associations and connections.
PTSD
At least 7 out of 10 of the people you’ll meet have experienced trauma in their lives. When such events occur in childhood, they can go unprocessed and unresolved for a long time. Such children may be diagnosed with PTSD and struggle with symptoms like intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, hyper-vigilance, sleep disturbances, social withdrawal, and more.
Children lack the cognitive skills and life experience to manage such a horrific experience. They slip into patterns of dysfunctional coping mechanisms and live lives of guilt, shame, anger, mistrust, low self-esteem, and fear. They are stuck in a state of high alert — unable to fully differentiate between real and perceived threats. Without treatment, they might grow into adults who have trouble regulating emotions, communicating in a healthy way, and accurately accessing memories.
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition on the planet. However, we don’t automatically associate them with childhood sexual abuse. But consider these factors:
- An abuse survivor may never feel fully safe
- Their sense of danger is exaggerated
- Being reminded in any way of their assault can be very triggering
- Intense worry is a daily reality
- Anxiety disorders can involve phobias or sudden panic attacks
To an outsider, this grouping of symptoms might be perceived as annoying quirks. In reality, they are almost inevitable outcomes under the circumstances. We all encounter memes and social media posts that encourage us to be kind because we don’t know what others are going through. Anxiety caused by childhood sexual abuse is a very extreme example of this truism in action.
Depression
Take a moment to ponder some of the common signs of depression, e.g. low mood, inability to enjoy life’s daily joys, feelings of hopelessness and low self-worth, and thoughts of self-harm. Is it any surprise that such symptoms could arise from something as terrible and jolting as sexual abuse? A victim may understandably feel that they are permanently damaged and that no one understands what they’ve been through.
Adults who endured sexual abuse during childhood need help to move past the confusion, shame, and self-blame that can emerge. Without professional support, they may not be able to find ways to resolve the avalanche of emotions resulting from the heinous actions of others at a time when the victim was so vulnerable.
Never Forget: Help Is Always Available
Since the root cause is trauma, you’ll want to connect with an experienced, trauma-informed therapist. This practitioner will become your partner on the journey to recovery. They’ll work with you to resolve the trauma while simultaneously treating the co-existing disorders detailed above. In the privacy of the therapy room, you can create a safe space to begin such self-exploration.
As debilitating as the symptoms can sometimes feel, you absolutely can take powerful steps to heal — and eventually thrive. Therefore, I invite you to reach out soon. Let’s connect and talk about the possibilities. I’m here to help.