Scandals have made headlines recently involving sexual abuse of minors in major organizations such as the Catholic Church, Southern Baptist Convention, Boy Scouts of America, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It’s no surprise, then, that thousands of people are living day to day with highly traumatic memories. Trauma, particularly in children, can lead to lifelong struggles with mental health. From PTSD to anxiety and depression, the long-term effects are real and devastating to many. But what is sexual abuse?
The sexual abuse definition can change depending on context, but in general, it’s any sexual activity that takes place without consent from all involved parties. If you’re interested in learning more about the intersection between sexual abuse and mental health, as well as how to get or provide support for someone with this traumatic background, keep reading.
Understanding the Connection Between Sexual Abuse and Mental Health
Recent research reveals that sexual abuse at any age can leave victims more likely to have lifelong struggles with:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Sleep disorders
- Suicide attempts
What Is Sexual Abuse?
Sexual abuse isn’t always violent. In some cases, it may not seem nonconsensual. It can consist of grooming young children to reduce the risk that a victim will report the activity, or using a position of power to pressure someone into unwanted sexual contact. Any form of sexual abuse can cause mental health side effects; however, the severity and duration of the abuse often determine the type and scope of those effects.
The assault severity, along with other factors such as perception of autonomy and other negative life events, plays a role in how quickly and successfully someone recovers after an experience of sexual violence. Sexual violence and abuse are attacks against someone’s personhood. The abuser denies the victim control over the one thing that should be fully under their control — their own body. From harassment and groping to rape and stalking, the forms sexual violence can take vary, and so do victim reactions.
Emotional and Psychological Effects
Any violent assault can lead to anxiety, trouble sleeping and feeling unsafe, particularly in the location where the assault occurred. For people abused at home, that often means no space feels safe at all.
If your home is burgled, it no longer feels like a safe haven from the violent world outside. When violence is directed at your person and sexuality, it can be even more devastating. After a sexual assault, many victims feel:
- Shame
- Guilt
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Depression
Some victims may develop eating disorders and an unhealthy preoccupation with their appearance. Problems sleeping can make the entire recovery cycle take longer, and some victims might reach out to substances (such as drugs or alcohol) to help deal with flashbacks or other negative emotions. For some, these effects gradually improve with time and distance from the event. For others, a sexual assault is just the beginning of lifelong mental health struggles. With an American the victim of sexual assault every 68 seconds, finding ways to help survivors is critical.
Coping and Seeking Help
In the words of Maya Angelou (a sexual abuse survivor), “I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.” Sexual abuse quotes from noted psychologist Judith Lewis Herman in her groundbreaking work “Trauma and Recovery” include supportive messages for those who have survived sexual abuse and boil down to one simple sentiment — it wasn’t your fault: “In order to escape accountability for his crimes, the perpetrator does everything in his power to promote forgetting. If secrecy fails, the perpetrator attacks the credibility of his victim. If he cannot silence her absolutely, he tries to make sure no one listens.”
Feelings of guilt and shame often lead sexual abuse survivors to seek out unhealthy behaviors as a way of coping with their trauma. Abusing alcohol or using drugs is common, along with social isolation and behavioral changes. Turning these coping mechanisms into reliable methods to overcome the mental health effects of an assault often depends on the support system available.
Supporting Survivors on Their Healing Journey
Sexual violence advocacy groups, including Mental Health Hotline, provide various services to those who’ve survived an assault. Victims can get help and support through national organizations such as:
- Mental Health Hotline: (866) 903-3787
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: (800) 656-4673
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center: online chat
These national hotlines offer you the immediate support you need when seeking long-term help. Empathetic counselors and fellow victims are at the other end of the line. By also connecting you with local services, these national organizations can help you start on the path to recovery.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual abuse, you’ve found help. Mental Health Hotline and its local partners connect you to reputable mental health professionals in your area, providing the help you need when you need it.