This issue is sensitive for all genders, but it is particularly sensitive for those who have been impacted by it. We are specifically addressing the most vulnerable group, which consists of teenagers and young adults who have endured sexual abuse since childhood or at least once during their formative years.
Understanding Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse encompasses any non-consensual sexual act imposed on another person, regardless of gender. It can take different forms, including rape, sexual assault, molestation, sexual harassment, cyber flashing, indecent exposure, and others.
The Importance of Addressing Sexual Abuse
This issue is incredibly important to address as it can have long-lasting and devastating effects on the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of the survivors. It can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and self-blame, as well as a myriad of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and even suicidal thoughts. Habits like masturbation, pornography, abnormal sexual orientations, reckless living, narcissism, substance abuse, and antisocial actions—actions that go against social norms and can harm others or society as a whole—can develop. This can include behaviors such as aggression, deceit, and disregard for the rights of others, including bullying and even racism, extreme shyness, and fears and phobias.
Creating a Safe Space for Healing
We do our best to create a safe space for you to come forward and seek support without fear of judgment or disbelief. Providing access to trauma-informed therapy, support groups, and resources for reporting and seeking justice is essential in helping you heal and move forward with your lives.
Coping with Childhood Sexual Abuse
Were You Sexually Abused as a Child?
Many people in their mid and late adulthood are still living with the trauma of sexual abuse in childhood, which they were not able to overcome, and now they are not able to live their lives to the fullest. To avoid this as a teen or young adult, before you get the courage to see a counselor, start from zero. Purpose to thrive beyond your past and allow your life to bear fruits.
Initial Steps to Recovery and Freedom
Create a quiet time with yourself, and if you are a believer, invite God to this initial step to recovery and freedom. Sit in front of a full mirror and imagine you are talking to that small boy or girl (the age at which you were hurt). Look straight into your eyes and open up to yourself about the locked trauma. Talk out everything verbally to yourself in the mirror as to what transpired and what you can remember. Don’t hold back any tears; open up yourself as you cry. Recall the painful physical and emotional feelings, for example, how fearful you were, scared, helpless, naïve, alone, trapped, and shocked. Say everything, even those that you keep as secrets and have never told anyone. Mention names if you can remember.
Understanding the Impact of Trauma
Discuss how the trauma affected your own perception of yourself, towards others, and all your relationships with others, including your decision-making over time. Report to yourself the physical effects that came with the trauma; let it be as raw as it comes out. Ask yourself how your life could be without trauma. Continue looking at your inner child in the mirror and breathe in and out deeply. Take a glass of water and feel how that goes through your throat as though entering an empty vessel. You have emptied the garbage that was eating you up and are filling yourself with life because water is life; you also feel new and refreshed.
Connecting with Your Inner Self
By doing this, you connect to your inner self and become vulnerable to your physical self. Every thought that shaped your mindset after the trauma is expressed. Now you have started a journey to reclaim your authentic self from your tormenting past and damaged self.
Steps to Realignment and Healing
First Steps
First and foremost, do not blame yourself for anything. Still in the mirror, tell your younger self/inner child that you are sorry for what happened. Hug and kiss her/him, call her/him by name (by your nickname or the name that family called you when you were that age).
Assurances and Forgiveness
Assure her/him that she is safe and has nothing else to fear and that you will always protect her. Let her smile and giggle and feel the warmth of her embrace. Forgive yourself. Forgive all the culprits. Ask yourself how your life could be without past trauma effects. Promise to move forward as free as a bird, new, happy, rejuvenated, hopeful, confident, loving, forgiving, peaceful, intelligent, positive thinking, and productive. Live a productive life to the fullest every day without strings attached to your traumas. From now henceforth, purpose to become better every day.
Imagining a New Life
Imagine it is like putting down a heavy, smelly, oversized, ugly, old patched garbage sack. You are now able to breathe again better; you are not bending anymore due to its heaviness. You can stand straight with confidence and grow your self-esteem.
Prevention of Sexual Abuse
Preventing sexual abuse involves fostering healthy, mutual relationships, setting and respecting boundaries, choosing friends wisely, recognizing red flags, and seeking safety or contacting a friend when necessary. When meeting a new boyfriend or girlfriend, having a trusted friend on standby is essential. Additionally, it’s important to avoid meeting unfamiliar individuals in open areas. If a family member is the perpetrator, seek assistance from a trusted adult, such as a parent of a friend, or consider moving to a safe location. In the event of abuse, seek help immediately and report the abusive behavior.
Creating a Safer and Just Society
It is important for society to listen to and believe survivors, and to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. By addressing this issue head-on and providing support for survivors, we can work towards creating a safer and more just society for all.
For additional guidance and support, you can visit Helping Survivors, a valuable resource offering help and information for those facing Sexual Abuse & Assault.
Hey, I’m Angeline, your RN and founder of Finally Am Found. With a heart for mentorship, I’ve been guiding teens and young adults since 2017. As a Registered Nurse, I blend medical expertise with personal experiences to create a Christ-aligned space for self-discovery. Connect with Angeline on Facebook and let the journey to self-discovery begin!
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Very interesting topic, appreciate it for posting.
thanks we appreciate it