What is Sexual Trauma?

Sexual trauma is your brain and body’s emotional high-stress response to being a victim of sexual abuse, assault, or violence. Essentially, sexual trauma is an umbrella term for the wide range of responses your brain and body may have as a result of sexual abuse.

Like other forms of trauma, the initial symptoms typically manifest immediately or shortly after the event. Denial, shock, shame, and guilt are some common symptoms of sexual trauma.

Despite how the initial rush of emotions makes a victim feel, there’s absolutely no shame in being affected by traumatic sexual abuse. Of course, no one should ever have to go through such a thing, but according to statistics, sexual abuse cases have been on the rise for decades.

If an impacted individual doesn’t seek professional treatment, sexual trauma can become downright debilitating. From a loss of proficiency in day-to-day cognitive functions to extremely powerful suicidal thoughts, trauma often wreaks havoc on the lives of sexual assault victims.

For many people, the trauma eventually evolves into full-blown PTSD, making daily life that much harder to navigate effectively. Surviving the day-to-day with trauma symptoms is hard enough, let alone with an official PTSD diagnosis.

While it’s painful to know how prevalent sexual abuse is, this is exactly why we’re focused on offering the most comprehensive sexual trauma therapy Phoenix has to offer. Call today at (480)463-4015 or click here to book a free consult to get more information on how therapy can be healing for you.

What Constitutes Sexual Abuse?

The term “sexual abuse” refers to any kind of behavior or sexual activity which is unwanted or unwelcome. Perpetrators of sexual abuse will often make threats, use force, or otherwise take advantage of their victim and disregard the refusal of consent.

This violent act may include a sexual offense, rape, attempted rape, or unwanted sexual behavior/touching of any kind.

And make no mistake—the perpetrators are absolutely performing an abusive and violent act. Unfortunately, one-third of all women and one-quarter of all men will experience some kind of sexual abuse in their lifetime.

While it’s common for the abuser to justify their actions before, during, and after sexual assault, none of those justifications are valid. Especially when you consider that most victims and abusers knew one another prior to the assault, it’s important to have a clear understanding of how important your boundaries are.

No one ever has the right to abuse another individual like this. The negative impacts to a victim of sexual abuse are often long-term, profound, and widespread across multiple facets of their life. And yet, sexual abuse occurs in every society—especially those that accept gender inequality and aggressive behavior as a whole.

How Does Sexual Assault Impact My Well-Being?

Sexual assault impacts your well-being in a wide variety of ways, depending on your brain chemistry, personality, and many other factors. Victims of sexual violence may experience negative impacts to any of the following:

·      Physical health

·      Mental health

·      Emotional health

·      Diet and appetite

·      Sleep/wake routines

And the impacts may be major, nuanced, or oftentimes, both. (1) More specific symptoms of sexual trauma include:

·      Changing your social behavior or circle of friends

·      Suffering from poor concentration

·      Engaging in self-harm behaviors

·      Suffering from suicidal thoughts

·      Increase in risky behaviors, such as substance abuse

·      Changes in your hygiene routines

·      Poor performance at work or school

·      Overactive fight-or-flight response, or sudden panic attacks

·      Ongoing cardiovascular or gastrointestinal issues due to the stress of trauma

But that doesn’t mean you’ll experience all (or even some) of these symptoms. Because no two people are alike, no two victims of sexual assault will behave or have their trauma manifest in the same way.

“Not all survivors of sexual violence are the same, nor will any act of sexual violence affect two people in the same way… As the body and mind process the devastation of sexual violence, many different emotions, behaviors, and physical responses appear and disappear and may reappear.”

–WCSAP.org

Truthfully, there’s no handbook or step-by-step guide to recover from sexual trauma. If healing was simple, there would be an instructional handbook… but making this journey truly requires that you get professional support and assistance.

How Does Sexual Assault Affect My Mental Health?

Most victims of sexual assault will experience at least one issue with their mental health, such as social isolation and flashbacks or nightmares. In a recent survey of teenage girls who suffered from sexual assault, 80% developed at least 1 mental health disorder… and 55% of them began suffering from at least 2.  

It’s clear that sexual abuse causes mental health problems for most victims. But, like the symptoms that affect an individual’s overall well-being, these symptoms are also specific to each individual. No two people will have the exact same symptoms of trauma.

That said, the psychological impacts can last for months—sometimes years—without proper professional treatment. If left untreated, symptoms often snowball and can lead to life-altering results.

Common psychological symptoms of sexual trauma include:

·      Feeling guilty or ashamed

·      Avoiding things or places that remind you of the traumatic event due to fear or panic

·      Isolating yourself from loved ones and social interactions

·      Insomnia and other neurological sleep disorders

·      Developing an addiction or substance abuse disorder to “escape” from the trauma

·      Eating disorders

·      Nightmares or flashbacks of the traumatic event

·      Developing PTSD

·      Developing anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts

When left unchecked, these symptoms will continue to weigh heavier and heavier on your mental health… and eventually, your physical health. You’ve done nothing to “deserve” these difficult and painful burdens. You needn’t shoulder this burden alone.

 Seeking counseling will help you get on the path to recovery and could potentially save your life.

How Can a Psychologist or Therapist in Phoenix Help Me Recover From Sexual Assault?

Because sexual abuse and assault can cause extreme emotional and physical trauma for the victim, targeted treatments led by a mental health professional are a crucial part of recovery. (2)

“The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that sexual violence affects one in three women and one in four men over the course of their lifetimes.”

-       NCBI

 In addition to helping you navigate therapeutic treatments, a therapist can be an unbiased sounding board for anything you’re thinking or feeling. Any questions, thoughts, or concerns you may have—whether about the process of treatment or about your own experiences—can be shared and explored in a secure and empathetic manner.

At Building Resiliency Counseling, compassionate sexual trauma therapy is provided to Phoenix residents. Many clients have been helped to overcome their trauma thorough proven, tailored treatment methods specifically chosen to support your journey to recovery.

Our location is specifically designed to be warm and comforting, enveloping you in a feeling of security and safety while you heal from your trauma and start rebuilding your resiliency.

During your sessions, we’ll work together to heal and recover from the ground up. Various treatment approaches, such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (or TF-CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (or DBT), mindfulness exercises, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (or EMDR), are available to ensure that you get the care that is specifically best for you in your healing and growth.

Trying to unpack and heal from the trauma of sexual assault does not have to be done alone—by working with a licensed therapist, you’re able to take meaningful steps in a safe and compassionate environment.  

Sexual Trauma Therapy Phoenix: Start Healing Today

If you’re feeling like a shadow of your former self… and like you’re watching the best parts of your true self fade away, day after day… you may benefit from seeking professional help.

Working with a professional doesn’t mean you’re weak or unable to “handle this” yourself. In fact, the opposite is true— seeking a therapist means you can rationally see the benefits of collaborating with an expert.

After all, you wouldn’t think yourself weak for seeing a doctor if you broke your arm… why should this aspect of your health be any different?

Building Resiliency Counseling is committed to providing the sexual trauma therapy Phoenix can trust. You can finally get on the road to recovery and reclaim control of your life and stop being held hostage by your trauma. 

Starting therapy for sexual trauma is the best way to start rebuilding your emotional and mental fortitude, ultimately enabling you to stand tall and start living your life to the fullest again. You deserve to let your inner light shine bright, illuminating your life and the lives of people around you.

If you’re ready to start counseling —and if you’re ready to reclaim what’s always been rightfully yours—book a consultation today to take the first step of your healing journey. Call (480)463-4015 or click below. Look forward to hearing from you soon.