How to get over sexual abuse?
Are you a survivor of sexual or physical abuse? As a survivor, you already know the devastating effect that abuse can have on your life. However, did you know that you are not alone and that there are support systems available for you? Your support network is available whether you choose to admit to being a victim or not.
Sexual abuse by someone not related to the victim creates a sense of powerlessness and helplessness. This translates as a feeling of being violated and unwanted. Because survivors are often ashamed and blamed for their behavior, it is very difficult to learn how to get over sexual abuse.
The trauma experienced as a victim of abuse can range from emotional and psychological symptoms to physical symptoms. Often victims are punished in a manner that does not make them feel safe or included. If the victim is sexually abused, they may be required to remain in a position of power within the family structure. If the victim is not sexually abused, they may not experience the same consequences.
Victims of sexual abuse are often afraid to discuss their experiences with others or with their therapist. They may fear being judged or being labeled as a sexual deviant. In fact, many victims suffer in secret and are too embarrassed or ashamed to discuss their abuse in a professional setting. Therapy can offer some healing for the victim. In fact, some of the most successful therapists who have been working with trauma victims for years know how to get over sexual abuse.
One type of therapy that many victims benefit from is called “sexual abuse cognitive therapy.” This type of therapy teaches victims how to recognize and change harmful behaviors associated with their abuse. Most often, victims learn how to resist inappropriate sexual advances and how to understand their own power and control. They usually learn how to turn these power and control dynamics into beneficial interpersonal relationships.
Victims are taught how to break patterns of abusive behavior, and they are taught how to assert their needs and interests. The goal of “sexual abuse cognitive therapy” is to give the victim a new sense of self-worth and confidence. It provides them with tools to make informed decisions about appropriate relationships and to make healthy choices in their personal and professional lives. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, it is important that you explore this type of therapy.
A very effective way to help victims heal is through “affirmations.” Affirmations can be a very powerful tool when it comes to recovering from sexual abuse. Affirmations are statements that can be repeated to yourself or to someone else that you affirm to help you maintain healthy boundaries in your life. For example, you might say to yourself, “I am strong and secure; I will not tolerate any sexual abuse.”
Many people have said that “sexual abuse” is akin to a virus – one that attacks the body and its ability to self-heal. When survivors go through this type of trauma, their bodies often shut down and do not respond to physical and mental healing in the same way that they would have normally. This is why victims are advised to seek an extensive amount of recovery support services. These services can include individual and group therapy, support groups, and health and wellness programs.
Unfortunately, there are many people who believe that victims should “carry the burden of guilt” and that the “blame game” is necessary. This is especially true with survivors of child sexual abuse. However, victims cannot and should not bear the burden of guilt. If anything, the emotional and psychological trauma caused by the sexual abuse should be carried forward for support as well as healing.
Another common myth regarding how to get over sexual abuse is that a person must be sexually abused in order to become a victim. While it is true that sexual abuse can play a role in a person’s ability to become a victim, it is not true that all victims are sexually abused. In fact, according to research, almost 50 percent of the population may experience sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Moreover, most victims do not experience sexual abuse, but are threatened with exposure if they disclose any information to anyone.
The last myth surrounding how to get over sexual abuse is that there is no hope for the victim. Again, while many adults have experienced some form of abuse during childhood, many more adults do not. Many victims do survive the trauma, but do so in a very diminished physical state. Healing from sexual abuse does not require the victim to be “over” it, but to find the strength to move on with his or her life and to heal emotionally and psychologically from the trauma.