The memory of childhood abuse can be traumatic for anyone and can often follow you into adulthood. Surviving and moving through the emotional turmoil of grief, guilt, fear, hatred and distress, can be extremely difficult. If you are an adult survivor carrying this type of pain, it can continue to haunt you in ways you may not even realize. Trauma can leave you feeling alone, therapy can help.

You may find it difficult to trust others, which can hold you back from moving forward. As an adult, know that you have a lot more control than you did as a child. You have the power to decide who to trust and when. Moving toward the life you want is possible. Trauma can leave you feeling powerless even though you have the power to live the life you deserve.

The Impact of Trauma

For adult survivors of sexual abuse, the effects are varied and can manifest in different ways. In general, it is common to experience hopelessness, so you may have the tendency to become indifferent toward others. Fear is also a natural response which can lead to increased levels of anxiety. Trauma often results in re-experiencing such as flashbacks, intrusive memories and nightmares which can impact sleep and daily functioning.

Traumatic experiences can have short-term and long-term effects. Immediately, it may have caused you to exhibit regressive behaviors. These experiences may also have disrupted your overall emotional development. You may have had difficulty interacting with others, functioning in school or relationships and in daily routines, such as sleeping and eating.

The long-term effects can be wide-ranging, including susceptibility to anxiety, self-harm, depression, insomnia and/or risk-taking behaviors (like substance abuse). These symptoms can be remarkably powerful, but you are not powerless.

The Emotional Repercussions of Abuse

The degree of repercussions in your life may vary depending on a lot of factors, such as the degree of your closeness to the abuser and how it was received by your family. Abuse can significantly contribute to your emotional turmoil, not only immediately after, but possibly throughout your life; particularly if there was no proper intervention after the trauma.

You might experience varied emotions and may even develop symptoms of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and/or other mood disorders. Difficulty trusting others may reinforce your tendency to dissociate from people. This can stand in the way of developing social skills and in maintaining healthy relationships.

Anger can consume you, coming out on those closest to you, particularly on those whom you believe should have protected you. Though this is a common reaction, it can be counterproductive after an extended period of time. It can result in hurting yourself, literally or through self-sabotage.

Where Do These Symptoms Come From?

If your trauma has not been fully processed, the past can continue to loom over your life, affecting your decisions and interactions with others. If you have kept it a secret or you did not receive adequate support afterward, the impact of your abuse can stay with you. If you still feel unsafe, ashamed, guilty, afraid or have lowered self-esteem, it may be because you have not fully healed from your traumatic experience.

These remaining hurtful feelings may prevent you from having healthy relationships. Painful reminders and memories of your past experiences can come as flashbacks and interfere with intimacy. You may have difficulty trusting your partner and you may struggle with setting boundaries to feel safe in your relationships.

Your trauma may impact more than your relationships. If you feel guilty, thinking you caused the abuse, it can further deter you from moving forward as you continue to blame yourself. You may be left feeling hopeless, powerless and vulnerable all the time, even with the people you love and respect the most. Without closure, negative emotions can consume you, standing in the way of feeling secure and living a fulfilling life.

Finding Closure and Moving Forward

Remember, you aren’t as powerless, even if your trauma left you feeling that way. You have the strength to seek intervention, address your symptoms and to improve your life. If you were not provided with interventions after your abuse, it isn’t too late to reach out for help now, as an adult. A capable therapist independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services in Cameron, NC – on Hwy 87, near Linden Oaks, can help you understand your experiences, resolve any negative emotions you may be feeling, and to start moving forward. Call today to schedule an appointment.

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