Understanding the Long-Term Effects of Sexual Abuse: Emotional, Physical, and Relational Impact
Sexual abuse is a serious crime that has devastating, long-lasting effects on survivors. The trauma from sexual abuse often extends beyond the immediate emotional and physical harm – these survivors continues to grapple the deep wounds that affect their mental health, physical well-being, and relationships for years.
At Meyer Law Firm, we understand the severity of this situation. Our team is dedicated to helping survivors seek justice through civil lawsuits against perpetrators and institutions. We aim to support victims as they navigate the legal process, ensuring their voices are heard, and empowering them on their journey toward healing.
In this blog, we will explore the long-term effects of sexual abuse, particularly its emotional, psychological, physical, and social consequences. Additionally, we also want to emphasize the importance of seeking support in recovering and rebuilding one’s life.
Emotional and psychological effects
Sexual abuse is a traumatic experience that can cause deep emotional and psychological effects to the victims. They often struggle with complex feelings that can persist for years if not addressed through proper support and therapy.
According to an article by Mayo Press Clinic, Dr. Shweta Kapoor, M.D., Ph.D., detailed many profound long-term effects that survivors of sexual abuse can frequently experience:
Loss of sense of self
Perpetrators are often someone close to the victim – whether a family member, friend, or authority figure. These abusers may manipulate their victims by telling them that what they are doing is not harmful and that the abuse is a form of love or care.
Over time, this manipulation causes victims to question their own reality, leaving them confused about what is right or wrong. They may start to believe that they are overreacting or even fabricating the abuse, which can damage their sense of self and self-worth.
Emotional dysregulation
Survivors of sexual abuse can also experience emotional dysregulations, where they struggle to manage their emotions. expressing extreme emotional responses, such as angry outbursts, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm. Even minor frustrations can cause them emotional explosions.
This instability can make it challenging to function in social settings and manage the stresses of everyday life.
Depersonalization and derealization
Many survivors experience depersonalization and derealization as well. Depersonalization can make victims feel like they are observing their life from a distance, detached from the world around them. Meanwhile, derealization is where survivors feel like everything around them is unreal.
These are both forms of dissociation – a psychological defense mechanism that victims use to feel safe.
Other mental health diagnoses
Sexual abuse can also lead to a range of mental health diagnoses. Survivors often face ongoing mental health challenges, such as:
- Anxiety: Constant worry, fear, and feelings of dread can become a daily struggle, affecting their ability to feel safe or secure in any environment.
- Depression: Feelings of deep sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed are common. Survivors may withdraw from others and struggle with self-care.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Many survivors develop obsessive behaviors, using them as a way to regain a sense of control over their environment.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Survivors often experience PTSD, which manifests through flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.
Physical health consequences
In addition to the emotional and psychological toll, sexual abuse can have serious physical health consequences. These effects can manifest immediately after the abuse or develop over time.
According to the Joyful Heart Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to transforming society’s response to sexual abuse and supporting survivors on their healing journey, sexual abuse can lead to a range of physical health issues, including:
- Problems with menstrual cycle and fertility: Women who suffered from sexual abuse often experience disruptions in their reproductive health. Chronic stress and trauma have been shown to impact hormone regulation, which can affect reproductive functions and lead to long-term complications.
- Chronic fatigue: Survivors may struggle with chronic fatigue, feeling exhausted even after adequate rest. This fatigue can be linked to the body’s prolonged fight-or-flight response during and after the abuse, where the constant state of stress drains the body’s energy reserves.
- Shortness of breath: The trauma of sexual abuse can cause hypervigilance, where the body is in a constant state of alertness, leading to shallow breathing and feelings of suffocation, especially during moments of heightened stress.
- Muscle tension: Chronic muscle tension is another common physical symptom, as the body reacts to the trauma by tensing muscles in an unconscious effort to protect itself. Survivors may experience frequent headaches, back pain, and muscle stiffness due to this prolonged tension, which can interfere with daily activities and overall physical well-being.
- Involuntary shaking: Survivors may feel their body trembling or shaking uncontrollably, which is a physical manifestation of the trauma’s impact on the nervous system. This symptom can be deeply unsettling and may occur during flashbacks or periods of high emotional stress.
- Changes in eating and sleeping patterns: Survivors may experience insomnia, nightmares, or difficulty falling asleep due to heightened anxiety and hyperarousal. On the other hand, some may oversleep as a way of escaping their emotional pain. Similarly, eating disorders such as binge eating, loss of appetite, or restrictive eating may develop as a coping mechanism to manage stress or exert control over their bodies.
- Sexual dysfunction: Sexual abuse often leads to long-term sexual dysfunction, which can manifest in a range of issues, including pain during intercourse, loss of sexual desire, or difficulty achieving arousal. These problems are often rooted in the trauma of the abuse, as survivors may associate sexual activity with feelings of fear, shame, or guilt.
Impact on relationships
Sexual abuse doesn’t only affect survivors on an individual level. It also has a significant impact on their relationships and ability to trust others. The trauma of sexual abuse, specifically when it is inflicted by someone close to the survivor, can distort the survivor’s view of relationships, love, and intimacy.
According to a study, sexual abuse can result in the following challenges in relationships:
Trust issues
Survivors of sexual abuse often struggle with trust, especially when the abuser was someone they knew and depended on. Victims may find themselves constantly questioning others’ intentions, fearing betrayal, or feeling hypervigilant in their interactions.
As a result, building and maintaining healthy relationships becomes a challenge, and survivors become reluctant to let anyone close for fear of being hurt again.
Attachment issues
The trauma from sexual abuse can severely disrupt survivors’ ability to form secure attachments with others. Some survivors may develop insecure attachment styles, which can manifest as clinginess or fear of abandonment, while others may experience emotional detachment, avoiding intimacy altogether.
Isolation and withdrawal from social relationships
Many survivors of sexual abuse isolate themselves from friends, family, or potential romantic partners as a defense mechanism. Victims often feel misunderstood and may prefer to remain alone rather than risk vulnerability in relationships.
This isolation can further reinforce feelings of loneliness and despair, making it even harder to seek support and engage in meaningful relationships.
The path to healing and recovery
The long-term effects of sexual abuse are far-reaching, impacting survivors emotionally, physically, and in their relationships. While the trauma can feel overwhelming, it’s important to remember that healing and recovery are possible.
Therapy, support groups, and medical care can all play a crucial role in helping survivors regain control over their lives, rebuild their self-worth, and restore trust in themselves and others.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, don’t wait to seek justice. Contact Meyer Law Firm today to discuss your options. Our team is here to guide you through this difficult process with compassion, professionalism, and a commitment to helping you reclaim your life.
