Invisible psychological injuries-Trauma in sexual abuse

There are few things I like talking about more than about reducing stress through the narrative discourse using the first person viewpoint, first, because of the results second, because, once a client has done it, it is almost like starting to write on a clean slate. I would say that doing this work is "a return to life". It is a wonderful way to clean up the past and reach levels of joy and fulfilment never reached before. 

In sexual abuse, trauma shows up in the physical and psychic integrity of the individual
Trauma in sexual abuse usually shows up in the physical and psychic integrity in any individual, but when it comes to a sexually abused child, the real threat gives rise to automatic body reactions and others in the psyche. 

Constant state of alert

In a constant state of alert, the organism's inner state is "in upheaval". Many childen who have now become adults speak of their inability to sleep well at night, waiting for an inevitable visit. As adults, their bodies, stressed, are still in wait. The feeling of oppression that accompanies the nervousness prevents them from letting go in activities with others. Joy and spontaneity are rarely part of their repertoire of expressions.

Lack of trust is an automatic reaction

The automatic reaction of non-trust puts their capacity to communicate at risk and also limits the ability to explore intimacy. Obviously, these reactions are meant to preserve the self, and are completely normal, but in terms of stress, vulnerability, draining weariness and poor self-esteem, they affect the level of general development of the abuse victim.

Self-identity and self-worth are affected 

Their comprehension of the world and relationships alters their self-identity and their perception of self-worth as well as their capacity to regulate their emotions and behaviors.

Because of that, their belief system is skewed and, in a vicious cycle, these beliefs have a tendency to reinforce themselves. Out of sync with reality, the individual fears for his sanity and his anguish level rises above normal.

Being a victim means someone else has the power

Among the injuries that no one sees is the secret they feel they have to keep, sometimes because the abuser imposed it, signaling the power he has over the victim. But for the child, the secret has two functions; if not discovered, no one can reject him on it; and if not revealed, it is almost like it is not a part of him. But one can easily understand that carrying such a secret is a constant stress and all the victims have disclosed that it affected different memory functions, their learning capacity and, as well, the regulation of their emotions and behaviors.

Emotions of shame, guilt, powerlessness

The child, who has participated in the abuse, is exposed to intense emotions of shame, guilt, powerlessness and perversion of roles as well as perversion of the senses for which he is not ready. The stress that is always there often generates nervous tics and quirks: urinating more often, regression in behavior, uncontrollable nervous fits as well as self-mutilation, anorexia/bulimia, many behaviors such as lying and stealing start later after the abuse.

Defense mechanisms occur involuntarily
Many defense mechanisms occur involuntarily: occultation, dissociation, denial and lying allow the individual to cut himself from reality especially with regards to others. But the resulting inner turmoil brings forth confusion and soon becomes an aggravating factor in the display of impulsive and unsafe behaviors.

Lack of confidence affects his whole life

In adulthood, he frequently feels incapable of healthily expressing his sexuality. He feels dirtied, shameful, miserable and powerless to make decisions and act for his well-being. His lack of confidence affects his relationships, his studies, his sexuality and rules of conduct: feeling vile, he rejects himself and feels unworthy of other people's attention.

Reconfigure the past is a blessing

The goal of therapy in sexual abuse is to reconfigure the past experience, as this will profoundly modify the consequences of those hurtful and traumatic experiences. Oftentimes, it even modifies the imprint of the experience on the individual. Discharging intense emotions, learning new affirmative communication and how to set clear healthy personal boundaries will generate internal safety to diminish the feeling of non-control over self. 

Message from Lorraine Loranger

Our fast-moving modern lives prevent us from following our natural rhythm. Based on hyperactivity, competition, and will, we hold in contempt our fatigue and stress. As we go beyond, producing efforts upon efforts, we buck up, we hang on, we persist and end up...exhausted.

Let us say that I have a philosophy for doing the work I do and the way I do it. Accounts of significant events in the life of the narrator have a plot, which is less often chronological and more often arranged according to a principle determined by the nature of the help the person needs. It is non-conventional: narration in the sense that it is used here deals with description, time, as well as context. 

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