Sex, Relationships and Sexual Trauma. Let’s start with statistics. Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted and every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. A majority of child victims are 12-17. Men are not exempt to sexual abuse. Researchers have found that at least 1 in 6 men have been sexually abused or assaulted, whether in childhood or as adults. Survivors of sexual abuse may encounter a range of short-and long-term effects of the trauma.
What are the effects of sexual trauma?
• Mental Health Disorders –There are many emotional and psychological reactions that survivors can experience. The most common are Depression, Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• Self-Harm - Deliberate self-harm, or self-injury, is when a person inflicts physical harm on himself or herself, usually in secret.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections - A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a bacterial or viral infection passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral contact.
• Substance Abuse - If you are concerned that you’re using substances in a way that could be harmful to your health or have concerns for someone you care about, consider learning more about the warning signs and places to find support.
• Dissociation - Dissociation is one of the many defense mechanisms the brain can use to cope with the trauma of sexual violence.
• Panic Attacks - A panic attack is a sudden feeling of intense fear and anxiety that happens in situations when there may be no immediate danger. They tend to affect people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or high levels of stress.
• Eating Disorders - Sexual violence can affect survivors in many ways, including perceptions of the body and feelings of control.
• Pregnancy - If you were recently raped, you may have concerns about becoming pregnant from the attack.
• Sleep Disorders - Symptoms of sleep disorders can include trouble falling or staying asleep, sleeping at unusual times of day, or sleeping for longer or shorter than usual.
• Suicide - Suicide is preventable and suicidal thoughts aren’t permanent. If you are thinking about suicide, there are resources to give you the support you need to get through this tough time.
What are the effects of sexual trauma?
• Mental Health Disorders –There are many emotional and psychological reactions that survivors can experience. The most common are Depression, Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• Self-Harm - Deliberate self-harm, or self-injury, is when a person inflicts physical harm on himself or herself, usually in secret.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections - A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a bacterial or viral infection passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral contact.
• Substance Abuse - If you are concerned that you’re using substances in a way that could be harmful to your health or have concerns for someone you care about, consider learning more about the warning signs and places to find support.
• Dissociation - Dissociation is one of the many defense mechanisms the brain can use to cope with the trauma of sexual violence.
• Panic Attacks - A panic attack is a sudden feeling of intense fear and anxiety that happens in situations when there may be no immediate danger. They tend to affect people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or high levels of stress.
• Eating Disorders - Sexual violence can affect survivors in many ways, including perceptions of the body and feelings of control.
• Pregnancy - If you were recently raped, you may have concerns about becoming pregnant from the attack.
• Sleep Disorders - Symptoms of sleep disorders can include trouble falling or staying asleep, sleeping at unusual times of day, or sleeping for longer or shorter than usual.
• Suicide - Suicide is preventable and suicidal thoughts aren’t permanent. If you are thinking about suicide, there are resources to give you the support you need to get through this tough time.
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How does sexual trauma affect sex and relationships?
• Guilt, shame, and blame. You might feel guilty about not having been able to stop the abuse, or even blame yourself if you experienced physical pleasure. It is important for you to understand that it was the person that hurt you that should be held accountable—not you. These traumatic experience(s) may negatively impact how survivors explore or experience physical pleasure.
• Intimacy and relationships. It’s possible that your first experiences with sex came as a result of sexual abuse. Thus, intimacy might be a struggle at times. Some survivors experience physical pain, flashbacks or painful memories while engaging in sexual activity, even though it is consensual and on their own terms. Survivors may also struggle to set boundaries that help them feel safe in relationships. In other words, sexual pleasure can be a trigger of sexual trauma and may hinder a survivor’s enjoyment of pleasurable sexual experiences. Sexual trauma may also negatively affect emotional connection and how a survivor may relate to an intimate partner.
• Self-esteem. You may struggle with low self-esteem, which can be a result of the negative messages you received from your abuser(s), and from having your personal safety violated or ignored. Low self-esteem can affect many different areas of your life such as your relationships, your career, and even your physical and sexual health.
How can sex therapy help you?
As a sex, relationship, and intimacy therapist, Luisa creates a comfortable and safe environment to talk about sex, relationships and sexual trauma with individuals and couples. Luisa helps survivors experiencing depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress process the sexual trauma, learn coping skills, and heal from the short-and long-term effects of the trauma
In sex therapy, Luisa helps clients facing sexual challenges as a consequence of trauma achieve a more satisfying sex life. In collaboration with clients, Luisa guides individuals and couples to identify triggers of trauma, foster healing, and transform unsatisfying sexual and relationship patterns to a more fulfilling sexual life.
• Guilt, shame, and blame. You might feel guilty about not having been able to stop the abuse, or even blame yourself if you experienced physical pleasure. It is important for you to understand that it was the person that hurt you that should be held accountable—not you. These traumatic experience(s) may negatively impact how survivors explore or experience physical pleasure.
• Intimacy and relationships. It’s possible that your first experiences with sex came as a result of sexual abuse. Thus, intimacy might be a struggle at times. Some survivors experience physical pain, flashbacks or painful memories while engaging in sexual activity, even though it is consensual and on their own terms. Survivors may also struggle to set boundaries that help them feel safe in relationships. In other words, sexual pleasure can be a trigger of sexual trauma and may hinder a survivor’s enjoyment of pleasurable sexual experiences. Sexual trauma may also negatively affect emotional connection and how a survivor may relate to an intimate partner.
• Self-esteem. You may struggle with low self-esteem, which can be a result of the negative messages you received from your abuser(s), and from having your personal safety violated or ignored. Low self-esteem can affect many different areas of your life such as your relationships, your career, and even your physical and sexual health.
How can sex therapy help you?
As a sex, relationship, and intimacy therapist, Luisa creates a comfortable and safe environment to talk about sex, relationships and sexual trauma with individuals and couples. Luisa helps survivors experiencing depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress process the sexual trauma, learn coping skills, and heal from the short-and long-term effects of the trauma
In sex therapy, Luisa helps clients facing sexual challenges as a consequence of trauma achieve a more satisfying sex life. In collaboration with clients, Luisa guides individuals and couples to identify triggers of trauma, foster healing, and transform unsatisfying sexual and relationship patterns to a more fulfilling sexual life.
