Nationwide, vulnerable adults and children experience sexual abuse much too frequently. When survivors of this trauma do not actively participate in the healing process, they will struggle with their emotions for the rest of their lives and have a lower quality of life.
One of the key components of recovery for survivors of sexual abuse is seeking justice. Justice to some people entails having their day in court and witnessing their abuser face the consequences of their behaviour. Criminal justice is frequently used to describe this. But when it’s too late to file a criminal complaint, civil action against the abuser also gives one a sense of justice.
You are not alone if you have experienced sexual abuse. You should also be aware that it is possible to learn how to recover from sexual assault. Many people want to support and encourage you as you start the healing process, starting with family and friends and extending to total strangers.
Everyone has a different road to healing. The road can occasionally be one of highs and achievements; other times, it can seem as though progress has stopped or is even going backwards. That’s because healing isn’t a straight line; rather, it’s an upward spiral that contains both happiness and sadness as well as ups and downs.
It is never too late to start your recovery path, regardless of how old you are or how long ago you experienced abuse.
Defining Child Abuse
Sex abuse of children is:
- Any intercourse between an adult and a child is defined as kissing by someone whose goal is similar to touching, touching a child with the objective to sexually arouse them or to provide a sexual experience for the offender.
sexually explicit or protracted fondling of the genitalia or other body parts
explicit sexual activity, such as oral-genital sex, manual genital stimulation, or intercourse.
- Any actions that are meant to sexually arouse the child or the abuser through the use of the child, such as showing the child pornographic material, taking sexual photos of the child, or having sexual conversations with the child.
- Having sex with someone who is more advanced in development than the child. If physical, emotional, or psychological harm is caused or coercion is employed, even children at the same developmental stage may perceive the act as abusive.
These definitions are not legal ones, which can differ from state to state. If you are unsure whether sexual assault has taken place, get in touch with your local police department.
What impact does childhood sexual abuse have in the long run?
For many, if not most, victims, child sexual abuse has undeniable long-term detrimental impacts. such issues as sexual dysfunction, substance addiction disorders, and eating disorders. Guilt, shame, re-victimization, low self-esteem, depression, relational issues, and/or other dissociative disorders are some of the most frequent effects. This does not imply that all abused children will definitely exhibit symptoms. There is, however, substantial proof that sexual abuse is harmful and necessitates a focused, intense intervention to end the abuse and support healing.
What is the course of treatment for sexual abuse in children?
In the past, there have generally been two methods used to treat child sexual abuse: the victim advocacy/child welfare method and the family-systems model. But over the past two decades, a lot of therapists and academics have come to the conclusion that the most successful treatment models include components of the family systems approach and the child advocacy method. A thorough program will address the needs of the entire family as well as the larger legal and social justice institutions. There is no single cause of sexual abuse in families, and effective treatment should take into account all degrees of abuse susceptibility.
The entire family may participate in sessions as part of family therapy to help them process what happened and establish new boundaries to prevent future harm. The victim’s acting out behaviour should be reframed by the parents as a way for their child to express their challenges with coping with them rather than as undesirable behaviour. Couples therapy can also be useful for mending relationships that may suffer as a result of going through the legal procedure. Parenting clubs are used to help parents get through their grief and guilt as well as to offer new parenting techniques.
When one of the parents has experienced abuse in the past or is finding it more difficult to come to terms with what occurred to their child, individual treatment for that parent may occasionally be helpful.
How do you seek medical treatment?
There are a few key components to look for in a programme while searching for treatment for childhood sexual abuse, regardless of whether the abuse has just been found or has occurred in the past. The most beneficial treatment plan will be one that addresses child sexual abuse from a systemic and contextual perspective.
Find local advocacy organisations online, or inquire about resources through your police representative. When a police complaint is taken, details on nearby resources and a police advocate are frequently given. Additionally, search for a therapist who mentions trauma therapy as one of their areas of expertise.
Make sure you are dealing with professionals you feel comfortable with because recovery can take time.
You will have to divulge personal information to them, therefore you must have faith in their competence. If you don’t think you have discovered the appropriate person for your family, make sure they are the correct fit for you and don’t be scared to try someone else.
Stages of Healing from the Trauma of Sexual Abuse
An overview of the procedure is provided here for your benefit or the benefit of a loved one.
- Deciding to get better. Victims must decide to heal, commit to the process, and make changes once they are aware of the impact sexual abuse has had on their lives.
- Stage of emergency. Some survivors experience the resurfacing of previously repressed sentiments and emotions, which momentarily wreak havoc in their lives. This is just a temporary phase that won’t stay forever.
- Remembering. As was already established, one typical reaction to childhood sexual abuse is traumatic amnesia. Many survivors hide significant aspects of their past, particularly incidents of abuse. As a result, survivors gradually recall the abuse, and those who haven’t buried their memories also recall the feelings and emotions they experienced as a result of the abuse.
- Acceptance. Even though survivors recall being sexually abused as children, they occasionally do not think it actually happened. Accepting that there was sexual assault is a necessary step in the recovery process.
- Revealing the secret. Children occasionally hold secrets out of remorse and shame. On other occasions, if they reported the abuse, the abuser threatened to harm their loved ones. In any event, speaking up and empowering a survivor can help them overcome the shame and guilt connected to sexual assault.
- Forgiveness of oneself. Abusers deceive and groom their victims into thinking they initiated or deserved the sexual abuse. Adult survivors must accept responsibility for their abuse, realise it was not their fault, and assign blame to the abuser.
- Get in touch with your inner child. Some survivors of sexual abuse become so traumatised that they are unable to feel vulnerable. You can experience self-compassion, self-love, and closeness in relationships by getting in touch with your inner child. Additionally, it enables you to harbour more rage against your abuser.
- Believing in oneself. Due to the trauma of the assault, victims of childhood sexual abuse find it difficult to trust or listen to their inner voice. The first step in healing is to learn to trust yourself by accepting and letting go of your pain.
- Expressing anger. As was already noted, some victims of sexual assault experience rage problems. Expressing your anger and using it to set yourself free are both necessary parts of the healing process. This entails identifying the person(s) you are upset with. A combination of the two, your abuser, those who failed to protect you from sexual assault, or both could be to blame.
- Addressing the abuser. Confronting the abuser is a crucial step toward closure and healing for some sexual assault survivors. Not everyone needs to go through this stage in order to move on with their lives, but for some people, conflict is a useful tool.
- Overcoming the inner turmoil and continuing. These stages are not accurate, so not all survivors will pass through them successfully, in the same sequence, or in any particular fashion. Up until you reach a point of stability, the steps of the healing process must be repeated. You will be guided by your inner voice, and you will be able to accept the abuse you suffered and the abuser, enabling you to go on with your life in a healthy way.
How a Sexual Abuse Attorney Can Aid in Your Healing
The physical and emotional harm you have endured as a result of sexual assault cannot be reversed by filing a civil lawsuit against your abuser. While working through your trauma, money from compensation for injuries and associated losses might assist pay for expensive therapy sessions, time off from work, and other costs.
While a personal injury attorney with experience handling claims of sexual assault will file the lawsuit on your behalf, taking legal action can also assist you in moving past some of the phases of healing. For survivors of sexual assault, skilled and empathetic attorneys do much more than simply push paper. You may contact one of our central coast lawyers if you’re near the Parramatta area.
