Talk therapy can be incredibly helpful for those who have experienced sexual trauma, Dr. “You can live a very successful life,” she says. But Shweta Kapoor, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist with expertise in complex trauma, has walked alongside many people as they deal with sexual trauma. For some, it complicates their lives even decades later as they struggle with their emotions, relationships and mental health. Perrys neuroscientific approach to the understanding and treatment of traumatized children how the physical brain responds to the experience of trauma and how the mind communicates and eventually heals from this experience in the safety of the therapeutic relationship.Sexual abuse is distressingly common, and it can leave emotional scars that feel like they’ll never heal. Bruce Perry in his book The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog and Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrists Notebook: What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us about Loss, Love and Healing, the mind copes by mobilizing the body to express something that is otherwise inexpressible with words. When the unthinkable happens such as in several of the clinical cases described by Dr. Psychoanalysis terms these reactions unconscious as they express an experience out of language, out of words and often out of what is perceiveable by an individual. Physical complaints, psychosomatic symptoms or autoimmune responses of the body.Many clinicians from different schools of thought have written on the subject of the way the body stores and remembers trauma in response to the mind rejecting, forgetting or dissociating from the experience. Enuresis (bed wetting) and encopresis (involuntary soiling ones underwear with feces) in a previously potty-trained child, unexplained and sudden temper tantrums or violent outbursts, as well as clingy, uncontrollable or impulsive behaviors that were previously missing from a childs way of being with others is another common indicator of something gone terribly wrong.ġ1. Regressive behaviors (mostly in children). Following the aftermath of sexual abuse, peopleare not experienced as safe, trustworthy and available so maintaining long-term relationships based on honestly is difficult and often tumultuous.ġ0. Disrupted relationships and difficulties maintaining long-term friendships or romantic partners. Mood fluctuations, irritability and disrupted neurotransmitter systems in the brain that present as depression, mania, anger and anxiety are common among trauma survivors.ĩ. Mood fluctuations, anger and irritability.Children are often unable to verbalize their feelings so instead, they act out on them. Psychotic-like symptoms.Paranoia, hallucinations or brief psychotic episodes are not uncommon for survivors of child sexual abuse.Ĩ. In adolescence and adulthood, this can take the form of promiscuity, illegal sexual activity such as prostitution or participation in pornography, escort services, etc.ħ. If a child is too young to be excessively masturbating or is engaging in pre-mature sexual play or behavior, this is typically a sign that the child has witnessed, been a participant in or has been exposed to adult sexuality. This is a commonreaction to pre-mature sexual exposure or a traumatic sexual experience. Even the “normal” experimentation with drugs of adolescence is not so “normal,” especially if you raised your kid to know the impact of drugs on the central nervous system, the consequences of addiction and the long-term effects of habitual drug use.Ħ. Substance Abuse.Abusing substances is a common coping mechanism for people, who have experienced trauma. Some research shows that during cutting or self-mutilation, the brain releases natural opioids that provide a temporary experience or sense of calm and peace that many, who cut, find soothing.ĥ. Self-Injurious Behavior (cutting, self-mutilation).Self-mutilation is another way survivors of trauma employ in an effort to cope with the experience of severe emotional and psychological pain. It is the escape of the mind from the body in times of extreme stress, sense of powerlessness, pain and suffering.Ģ. Dissociation.Dissociation is probably the most common defense mechanism the mind employs to protect itself from the trauma of sexual assault. In that case, I would highly suggest seeking out some help.ġ. If you have experienced any form of childhood trauma, abuse or neglect, you may identity with some of the behaviors and patterns discussed below. Depending on the age, specific nature of the sexual trauma and the temperament and coping skills of each person, the clinical presentation may look differently.
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