How To Deal And Overcome Sexual Abuse?

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

As someone dealing with overcoming sexual abuse, I can tell you that it is a tough, long, and exhausting journey.

You often experience depression with it, guilt, anxiety, distrust, and fear.

Alisa Bowman writes, however, that there are ways to deal with overcoming sexual abuse.

Ways Of Dealing And Overcoming Sexual Abuse

First, and probably foremost, you need to find a good support group. It can be a literal support group you meet once a week, or it can be a group of friends, a loved one, a significant other.

What matters is that they would believe you, believe in you, and support you through this tough time.

Bowman writes, “We too often resist talking about sexual trauma because we are misguided in thinking that we’re the only women on the planet who have ever experienced such a thing.

We see ourselves as weak and possibly even stupid for “letting it happen.” We think of ourselves as dirty and as damaged.

None of this is true. All you need to do is tell your story to one other person to know this.

You are a wonderful, lovable, wholesome person.” So this person should be part of your team, be by your side.

Next, you need to “own your past.” Yes, you have been through something terrible, but how is it affecting you now?

Recognize what makes you uncomfortable and avoid it while you heal. Also: it is important that you see how this affected you and deal with it, “you do need to acknowledge that it has shaped you.

What symptoms still linger? Do you still have nightmares? Do you freeze up during sex?

Are you uncomfortable being naked? Do you wear frumpy outfits in order to hide your body so no one will find you attractive and want to hurt you?

Have you gained weight for the same reason?”
Are you scared around men? Do you get nervous around people, in general?

Recognize how this experience shaped you and own it. It has defined you in a way. Maybe you do not like the way it has affected you, so change it.

You can do this!

This brings me to the next point that Bowman shares: “Find your inner power. Once you know what it feels like to be completely powerless, you never forget it.

Yet, avoiding scary situations doesn’t reduce that sense of powerlessness. Avoidance does the opposite. It makes you feel even weaker.

You need to take back your power. Continually push yourself past your comfort zone in every aspect of life.” I am scared of communicating too much, so I work with a lot of people to push myself to communicate.

Overcoming Sexual Abuse

Is it scary? Oh, my goodness, yes. Every single time is scary, but every single time, it is less scary. And then, I know that I am making progress.

Finally, you have to forgive. Okay, you do not have to forgive. I am too angry to forgive these people. But, keep it as an option, as a choice for you.