Introduction
Sexual trauma generally refers to the physical and psychological trauma experienced by survivors of sexual assault. So, the survivors have been exposed to certain sexually uncertain behaviors that result in intense degrees of stress. This exposure could have happened without consent in most cases. Sexual trauma has no age limit, gender prevalence, or socioeconomic status. Any person who has endured sexual violence in the past can encounter it. Some people endure sexual assault in America every 73 seconds, and some children every nine minutes. About twenty percent of women are reported as sexual violence victims as children. Hence, sexual trauma from sexual assault is a more prevalent and profound concern that requires a great deal of care and recovery.
What Is Sexual Trauma?
Sexual trauma involves any physical and psychological behaviors and changes encountered by survivors of sexual abuse and assault. Sexual violence could result in both the short and long-term effects of sexual trauma. Moreover, sexual trauma can result from inappropriate sexual experiences that substantially and adversely change how the survivor sees. It also alters the way they navigate their relationships and the world. Though not everyone responds to trauma and stress similarly, they typically experience the associated distress in anxiety, depression, stress, and fear. Moreover, the effects of such sexual assault and sexual violence might often present the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, as they are closely related.
What Is the Cause of Sexual Trauma?
Sexual trauma happens due to past experiences of sexual assault or abuse. Subsequently, it is due to the increased levels of cortisol hormones in the body. When a sexual assault occurs, the body undergoes a copious degree of strain. Then, the body indulges in the production of cortisol stress hormones in response to the triggers. The triggers can be anything like the smell, physical touch, pictures, or agitated environments. The higher grades of stress hormones can eventually increase stress levels in the body in addition to guarding activity. The person can also have a stress response even without triggers due to increased cortisol levels.
What Are the Symptoms of Sexual Trauma?
The response to sexual assault is described as sexual trauma. After all, the response can be minimal based on the individual's perspectives. So, the symptoms can sometimes be personal and sometimes very obvious, showing significant responses to sexual violence. It is estimated that about 50 percent of women in Northern America present symptoms of sexual trauma.
The body’s response to sexual assault can be physical, psychological, or emotional.
Physical Symptoms:
The body commonly presents a constant fear response to triggers, or in the absence of triggers, in the case of sexual assault survivors. This phenomenon is referred to as hyperarousal or hyperactivity. The person might have the following symptoms in such states.
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Headaches.
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Chest pain.
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Lack of concentration.
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Stomach and other difficulties.
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Difficulty sleeping.
Psychological Symptoms:
Sexual trauma and its effects chiefly include mental distress. The psychological symptoms of sexual trauma are listed below.
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Emotional outburst.
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Alcohol abuse.
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Self-harm.
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Difficulty in concentration.
Emotional Symptoms:
Sexual assault causes the person drop-rooted emotional distress than physical and psychological consequences. So, the person has the following characteristics in response to sexual violence.
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Emotional numbness.
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Irrational and intrusive thoughts of previous traumatizing events.
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Avoidance of relationships and the world.
What Are the Effects of Sexual Trauma?
In addition to symptoms or certain short-term effects, a person who has encountered sexual violence tends to experience long-term effects when the condition is left untreated. So, experiencing sexual trauma can negatively impact an individual's health, daily life, and overall well-being. They also affect education and academics in the case of children.
The common negative impacts of sexual trauma are as follows.
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Coping Ways: The survivors of sexual assaults find certain coping strategies to escape from and forget those traumatizing events. So, sexual violence has been associated with negative behaviors like substance abuse, the increased prospect of smoking or alcohol, and involvement in risky sexual activities.
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Physical Effects: The survivors experience significant bodily changes after the event. The physical changes are the direct outcome of the trauma rather than the consequences obtained. The physical effects include chronic pain, lower abdomen concerns, difficulty in sleep, eating disorder, fatigue, and heart ailments.
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Behavioral Changes: Sexual assault in past childhood can impact the person, making them more likely to avoid social interactions. The survivors can avoid physical contact and sex due to distrust.
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Difficulty in Normal Life: The person who has endured sexual assault faces challenges returning to normal life. So, they find difficulties in personal relationships, job areas, returning to school, and identity.
How Is Sexual Trauma Treated?
It is profoundly hard to live with sexual trauma and bear those scars. It can impact life in all ways. Healthcare providers, particularly sexual health specialists and psychiatrists can address the trauma and prescribe the appropriate treatment to help get rid of the traumatic events in physical, emotional, and psychological ways. The treatments chiefly include medications like selective serotonin reputable inhibitors, typically used for managing stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It also includes certain psychotherapies.
How Is the Healing After Sexual Trauma?
Healing from sexual trauma can be an intricate and individualized process varying from individual to individual. This typically involves the combination of healing mechanisms, including physical, emotional, and psychological aspects. It is essential to remember that healing takes place with patience and time, though every person’s journey is different. There is no time duration of healing after sexual trauma. The healing depends upon varied factors, such as the nature of the trauma, the severity of the condition, personal resilience, the circumstances, and the available support resources.
Conclusion
Children and adults who endure sexual bullying, distressful acts, and sexually abusive circumstances have significant negative effects n every aspect of life. Sexual trauma affects the people who have experienced and witnessed sexual assault.
Though sexual trauma is not easy to manage, and never simple to get rid of the traumatizing events until the survivor takes a step forward. Sexual assault can be paramountly intensified through our growth in the presence or absence of the triggers. Moreover, Trauma is a scar that stays on the body physically and emotionally until the survivor ameliorates and heals it. Hence, this condition is self-manageable by picking the right coping strategies.
