Sexual Abuse related Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms
Long before a volcano erupts there are signs. Often undetected, these early signs of future eruption are rumbling well below the surface. For those who don’t realize they are living in close proximity to an active volcano they may not realize,until after the lava has flowed and destruction has come, that they missed the signs.
In a similar way you may recognize some of these symptoms within yourself or someone close to you and simply believe “that’s just the way they are” or “that’s just my personality”. But when we view these symptoms interconnected within a sexually abused person we can see the destructive effects of that abuse as it rumbles near the surface.
You are not destined to live out your life this way – Jesus has so much more to offer you.
There is hope and there is healing!
- Numbing of emotions
may feel like you are refusing to have emotion
Emotion is replaced by fake more acceptable ones – like wearing a mask
- Compartmentalized behavior and/or lifestyles
good girl verses very promiscuous girl
- Control
the need to control all relationships
never to be over-powered again and left helpless
- Lack of trust in any relationship
- Sexual promiscuity /Sexual dysfunction
very sexual or apathetic
- Self-esteem
feelings of worthlessness, feeling inadequate- never good enough
something must be wrong with me to make this happen
something must be wrong with me to cause God not to help me, care for me or see me
Desire to be invisible while at the same time needing to perform, to be good enough in order to feel validated
- Self-blame
I should have done something or told someone
- Anger
Often the anger is out of proportion for the circumstance
- Shame
- Depression
- Self-destructive behavior
Substance abuse
Eating Disorder
- Sleep Disturbances
Nightmares
Insomnia
Deliberate sleep deprivation
- Fear / Anxiety
Generally unreasonable, unfounded, and/or morbid
- Suicidal
- Suicidal thoughts,
not necessarily planning a way to carry out suicide, but wishing to die
