April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to shed light on the realities of sexual abuse and the lasting emotional and psychological trauma it can cause. Foundation Stone Wellness offers compassionate, evidence-based care that helps survivors reclaim their lives. One of the most severe mental health consequences of sexual abuse is post-traumatic stress disorder – a condition that can affect every aspect of your well-being.
What Is Sexual Abuse?
Sexual abuse is any unwanted or nonconsensual sexual contact or behavior. It includes a wide range of acts and can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender identity, or background. Examples of sexual abuse include:
- Rape or attempted rape
- Sexual assault or molestation
- Unwanted sexual touching or groping
- Sexual coercion, manipulation, or threats
- Incest or abuse by a family member
- Exploitation by a caregiver or authority figure
These acts violate your physical, emotional, and psychological boundaries. As a result, you may carry invisible wounds that can last years or decades after the event.
How Sexual Abuse Leads to PTSD
Sexual abuse is a profoundly traumatic experience that can shatter your sense of safety, trust, and control. When your mind cannot fully process or resolve what happened to you, the effects may evolve into PTSD. This condition can develop shortly after the abuse or surface much later, often triggered by reminders of the trauma.
PTSD is pervasive among sexual abuse survivors due to the personal, invasive, and often secretive nature of the experience. Feelings of shame, self-blame, and isolation may prevent you from seeking help, further intensifying your symptoms over time.
Common Symptoms of PTSD From Sexual Abuse
PTSD affects survivors in unique ways, but typical symptoms include:
- Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks related to the trauma
- Nightmares or insomnia
- Avoidance of people, places, or situations that trigger memories
- Hypervigilance, including a heightened startle response
- Emotional numbness or detachment
- Irritability or anger
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
- Feelings of guilt, shame, or worthlessness
These symptoms can disrupt your daily life, damage relationships, and make it harder for you to feel safe or connected to others.
Healing the Hidden Wounds
Foundation Stone Wellness is a safe and nurturing environment where you can begin to rebuild your identity and self-worth with evidence-based treatment.
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy: Allows you to reframe negative thoughts and reduce stress.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Provides an avenue to relive traumatic memories in a way that reduces their emotional impact.
- Dialectical behavioral therapy: Provides specific skills to manage and change intense emotions that cause problems in your life.
- Mindfulness and stress-reduction practices: Foster grounding, emotional regulation, and self-awareness.
Our integrative retreat also incorporates spiritual wellness practices tailored to your specific goals.
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse and are struggling with PTSD, your pain is valid. Seeking help is a courageous and empowering way to reclaim your life. Contact us today to learn more about how we heal through trauma-informed care.