Signs of

Sexual Abuse

Emotionally, Sexual Abuse Survivors May Experience:

• guilt--shame 

• fear--anxiety 

• self-blame--dissatisfaction 

• powerlessness--helplessness 

• inability to say no to others in relationships 

• difficulty nurturing self 

• lack of trust of own perceptions and feelings 

• emotional shut down or 'numbing' 

• inability to see the positive aspects of oneself 

• perfectionism 

• 'splitting' mind from body 

• control at all costs 

• feeling invisible 

• problems giving or receiving affection 

• difficulty relying on others

Physical Symptoms of Child Sexual Abuse May Include:

• physical symptoms with no medical cause

• feeling betrayed and repulsed by own body

• withdrawing or flinching from touch

• sleep disturbances

• not being 'present' in own body

• denial of bodily needs

• high pain tolerance

• eating disorders

• drug/alcohol addiction

• suicidal thoughts/behaviors

• self-mutilation

• self-imposed isolation

Relationship Problems Might Include:

• idealizing, overvaluing, or devaluing others/self

• humiliating interactions

• fear of commitment

• difficulty with trusting self/others with intimacy

• self-imposed isolation or excessive neediness

• toleration of abusive patterns

• triangulating others

• emotional and physical care-taking of others at own expense

• involvement in abusive, criticizing relationships

• giving or receiving abuse

Sexual Symptoms can include:

• inability to differentiate/combine sex, affection, intimacy

• sexual orientation confusion

• violent or sadomasochistic fantasies/behaviors

• unwanted pregnancy/abortion

• loss of sexual desire

• sexual exploitation through prostitution

• genital numbness

• sexualizing all relationships

• pain during intercourse

• sexual guilt about sexual pleasure

• belief that one's only worth is sexual

• inability to orgasm alone or with a partner

• intrusive flashbacks of forced sex

• alternating between sexual abstinence and compulsivity

• deep hatred of body and its sexual responses

• sexually transmitted disease

• sexual re-victimization

Behavioral Effects of Sexual Abuse May Include:

• hyperactive, hyper vigilant behaviors

• impulsively entering/leaving relationships

• compulsive spending, stealing, lying, gambling or working

• dangerous risk-taking behaviors

 

 

Back to Butterfly Gardens' Main Page