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What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Sexual Abuse Counselling?

Sexual abuse is one of the most traumatic events an individual can go through. Although it is an unspeakable act, the only way to overcome the trauma associated with it is to talk. Sexual abuse can occur at any time, to anyone of any gender and age. Previous strategies to deal with sexual assault often include sweeping the issue under the rug or remaining hush about it.

However, this only worsens matters and makes the victim feel isolated. Negatively impacting survivors’ already deteriorating mental health. Sexual abuse counseling is one of the most successful methods of dealing with sexual abuse. With the help of a certified therapist, survivors can open up about their trauma and try to make sense of their emotions.

Although going for counseling and opening up about abuse is a difficult process, it is needed for healing from the event in a healthy manner. After all, there are numerous beneficial long-term effects that can be received from professional sexual abuse counseling.

Long Term Effects Of Sexual Abuse Counselling

Sexual abuse counseling is a safe and healthy way to overcome the trauma associated with sexual abuse. Although this type of counseling can help you deal with the issue and emotions at hand, it also leads to positive long-term effects. Below are some of the most common positive long- term effects that survivors of sexual abuse have felt after taking counseling

Developing Self-Loving Behaviors

Going through sexual abuse often wreaks havoc on the survivor’s mental health. Survivors are often trapped in a vicious circle of negative thoughts and emotions, translating into various sorts of self-harming behaviors and a negative mentality about one’s self-worth. Learning to dissociate yourself from the incident, deal with the shame and guilt effectively, and not allow the intrusive thoughts to take over can be difficult to achieve by yourself. As a result, numerous survivors are unable to view themself the way they did before the incident, and their self-image and worth continue to deteriorate until the cycle is broken. A licensed professional can help survivors eliminate the negative connotations they may associate with themselves. This will help survivors begin their journey of self-healing. One of the strategies used by counselors to help sexual abuse survivors is to develop self-loving behaviors. By challenging the adverse views and thoughts that the survivor may carry, counselors can help survivors start their journey of positive thinking and self-love. This is then further reinforced and developed by practicing self-loving behaviors that help survivors move forward.

Building Healthy Routines And Habits

Intrusive thoughts and trauma from past events can lead to damaging behaviors for survivors. If this issue is not dealt with appropriately by a licensed counselor, it can be exacerbated. The feelings and emotions from the event can become overwhelming for many survivors. They can result in negative, destructive behaviors and habits.

Depending on the habits themselves, these can cause various levels of harm to the individual themselves. Destructive habits can impact the survivor socially, mentally, professionally, and physically. Therefore, sexual abuse counselors must intervene appropriately and break these behaviors.

Furthermore, positive strategies and healthy behaviors can be incorporated and reinforced into the survivors’ routine. These healthy habits and routines work as a way to gain more balance in the individual’s life and encourage them towards a healthy lifestyle.

Learning Healthy Coping Mechanisms

One of the most detrimental effects of sexual abuse is that the survivor often develops negative coping mechanisms to deal with overwhelming emotions. Declining mental health is an unfortunate circumstance that most survivors undergo. They often experience extreme emotions and intrusive thoughts that require an outlet.

When there is no healthy way for individuals to deal with their trauma, they use negative coping mechanisms instead. Sexual abuse counselors are specially trained in replacing negative coping mechanisms with positive, impactful ones.

Sexual abuse survivors are guided towards healthy routines and mechanisms that can help them deal with the flood of overwhelming emotions safely. This helps to diminish the intensity of the emotions. The survivor now has a positive outlet for them instead of bottling up or using unsafe coping strategies.

Letting Go Of Intense Detrimental Negative Thoughts and Behaviors

Sexual abuse is a highly traumatic event, and survivors are often left trying to come to terms with the incident while grappling with their deteriorating mental health in the process. Negative intrusive thoughts, guilt, blame, disgust, and terror are just some of the difficult emotions survivors often face. Dealing with these alone can lead to many issues such as destructive coping habits, negative behaviors, routines, and rapidly declining mental health. Sexual abuse counselors allow individuals to express themselves in a safe environment. Since it takes time for survivors to simply accept the incident, it can take even longer to find the right words to express themselves and become more self-aware in the process. Counselors can guide survivors on the best way to reach this step to deal with their negative emotions and not allow them to take over and affect their daily functionality now or in the long run.

Conclusion

Sexual abuse is a grave crime. However, it is a prevalent issue in all parts of the world. Despite its widespread occurrence, there are very few resources for sexual abuse survivors to try to heal from the event. Sexual abuse counseling is a great tool for survivors. They must be encouraged to receive it as it has numerous short-term and long-term positive effects.

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