Online Healing Resources:
Are you a survivor of child sexual abuse? Child sexual abuse is common, and survivors can carry with them the impacts that are inherent to this type of trauma: triggers, anxiety, trust issues, substance abuse, sleep challenges, and other day-to-day challenges that are disruptive and persistent.
Saprea has a message to survivors of child sexual abuse: You are not alone. We have programs and services to provide education, support, and strategies to help you begin the process of healing.
Online Resources for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
Our library of research-based online resources helps you address symptoms that may be associated with child sexual abuse trauma. We also help you understand the why’s behind the effects trauma may have had on your life, with information about trauma and its impact on the brain and body, as well as the long-lasting impacts of shame and its underlying connection to other symptoms you may experience.
Once you understand some of the why’s behind the symptoms and experiences you have been coping with, we think you’ll be better prepared to interact with our collection of healing resources. Using the three healing practices of Acknowledgement, Mindfulness, and Aspiration as springboards, we have practical, applicable tools and activities that you can integrate into your already busy life. Healing is possible, one day at a time.
Common Symptoms Experienced by Child Sexual Abuse Survivors
Survivors of child sexual abuse may experience a range of symptoms that stem from the trauma they experienced as children. Childhood trauma, especially trauma that lasts for an extended period or neglects the basic human needs of feeling safe and loved, can cause toxic stress.
The Connection Between Trauma Symptoms and Child Sexual Abuse
What does the brain and the effects of childhood trauma have to do with an adult survivor’s symptoms? As our brains and bodies try to compensate for high levels of stress, the body releases hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) to help us respond to the stressor; this starts a chain of physiological responses in our bodies, all of which can disrupt sleep, negatively affect mood, hinder metabolism, interfere with the body’s ability to fight illnesses, obstruct concentration and memory, or create a sense of discontent that may lead a survivor to try to numb the pain with substances, relationships, or other distractions.
If you are a survivor of child sexual abuse trauma, you may know all too well what it’s like to experience some of these common symptoms:
Healing from the Trauma of Child Sexual Abuse
As a survivor of child sexual abuse, you may have a range of painful emotions. Survivors have shared everything from wondering why they can’t just “get over” what happened many years ago, to feeling like until they find some relief, there is no clear path forward. At Saprea, we understand why survivors experience these fears and frustrations; what you experienced as a child was likely confusing, frightening, and may have even been done to you by someone you trusted or loved. Such feelings are natural, valid, and among the very real effects of your trauma.
Trauma researchers are learning more about the effects that trauma has on the brain and body, and it’s clear that these effects can be wide-ranging and disruptive to daily routines years or even decades after the abuse has stopped. And while the research is sobering, there’s good news, too: Because of the brain’s ability to adapt (referred to as neuroplasticity), trauma survivors can increase their awareness of how the abuse has impacted their brain and body. Through this awareness and through practicing specific tools and strategies, survivors of child sexual abuse can decrease post-traumatic symptoms and increase feelings of well-being.
What Are Common Long-Term Effects of Child Sexual Abuse?
Any sort of trauma can have long-term impacts. This is especially the case when a trauma is experienced in childhood or adolescence and/or is sustained repeatedly—as is often the case with sexual abuse. Survivors of child sexual abuse may experience effects of their trauma well into adulthood. Because of the nature of this type of trauma and the stigma that unfortunately accompanies it, it is common for survivors to be reluctant to share this information with medical professionals, friends and family, and other contacts, which means they are more likely to suffer in silence.
Since no two people are the same, there is no list of long-term impacts that every survivor of child sexual abuse experiences. The nature of the abuse, the relationship to the abuser(s), the age, even the personality and genetics of the survivor can have a great impact on the survivor’s trauma response. However, while the trauma responses vary from survivor to survivor, the long-term effects common across all experiences can be categorized into two main areas: the effect of trauma on the brain and body, and persistent feelings of shame.
Trauma and Its Effect on the Brain and Body
Whether you have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or you experience symptoms like triggers, sleep issues, or using drugs or alcohol to cope, we believe you can benefit from learning more about trauma and its impact on the brain and body.
Shame and Child Sexual Abuse
As a survivor of child sexual abuse, you may experience varying levels of shame that can impact your perception of yourself, of others, and of the situations you experience. Shame is a barrier to healing, so we invite you to learn more about shame and ways you can work to manage it.
Are the Effects of Child Sexual Abuse Permanent?
As much as we would love to offer a quick fix to challenges and struggles you face, we recognize that healing from such a trauma requires work, practice, and support. So, while we can’t offer a quick fix, we can provide some great resources to help you better understand your brain, reconnect with your body, find support, and implement strategies for managing symptoms. The brain is amazingly able to change and adapt (often referred to as neuroplasticity), and at Saprea, we’re dedicating our time and resources to finding solutions to help you begin your healing journey.