When we are sexually abused as children it creates a deep “wound in our souls”:. The soul is your mind, will, and emotions. Childhood sexual abuse is a violent wounding of your soul. When you were sexually abused as a child it was most likely by someone you trusted and your “trust” has been shattered. Your capacity to trust yourself and others have now become an ongoing issue as an adult. You may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder as your repressed memories are held in the body with the accompanying emotions that are now “stuck” in your body and mind. As a result, you may also be experiencing physical symptoms(ie. IBS,backaches, frequently feeling “sick”,as well as emotional ones. Depression and anxiety are strongly correlated with childhood sexual abuse.1 in 4 girls has experienced sexual abuse during childhood and 1 in 13 boys. These numbers only represent those who are reporting the abuse. Most do not as childhood sexual abuse cloaks the child in shame and fear as well as ‘; secrecy”. Boys are much less likely to report sexual abuse due to confusion related to cultural norms and stigma.
See: ”Men Breaking The Silence Of Childhood Sexual Abuse”
1.COURAGE
Courage is an essential element in your healing. It will take “courage” to make a conscious decision to no longer run away and avoid what happened to you as a child but to allow yourself to feel and process so that you can begin to heal. You do not have to live your life with the effects of your childhood sexual abuse but it will take you making an effort in order to go forward if you do not: then you will stay stuck. Courage will move you forward to speak and process. Therapy is essential so that you can finally get the attention you so desperately need and be able to feel “safe” to begin this amazing healing process and longer be alone as you go through it
2. BREAKING THE SILENCE.
Like so many survivors of childhood sexual abuse, you may never have told anyone what happened to you as a child. Everything was cloaked in fear and shame that you internalized. As an essential step in beginning the healing process: your starting put your thoughts and feelings into words to speak about what was “unspeakable” before. You can start with anyone providing that this is someone that you do “trust”. Often in families, more than one child was sexually abused by the same perpetrator and siblings have never spoken to each other about what happened. This could be a place for you to start or a friend as “breaking the silence” is the beginning of healing!
3. LETTING GO OF SHAME AND GUILT
Please understand that the one who needs to hold the shame and guilt is the perpetrator, not you!! You were never the problem and you did not cause this soul violation and wounding! In order to be free from the shame you will need to no longer believe the “lies” you have believed and internalized about yourself and the guilt related to the “secret” you have been holding: as what happened was never your fault! John 8 V32: “You Shall Know the Truth and The Truth Shall Set You Free”.!
See: “How To Break The Shame/Depression Cycle”
THERAPY WITH THE “RIGHT” THERAPIST CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Would love to walk along this healing journey with you so that you are no longer bound to the effects of childhood sexual abuse but can be fully alive as the “grave clothes” are removed with truth, love, and compassion, and healing is internalized. If you would like to begin this amazing journey please give me a call.