Abuse is perhaps one of the ugliest words in the English language. And its definition is just as horrific. But unfortunately, human beings often take advantage of others, and this sometimes comes in the form of abuse.
When it comes to abuse, most understand this as being divided into the definable categories of mental and physical. But sexual abuse is one form that contains both definitions.
Victims of sexual abuse suffer horribly. And though the degree to which one suffers varies from one person to the next, most survivors of sexual abuse develop mental health issues later in life.
But some individuals have learned how to cope after becoming a victim of sexual abuse. These are the strong spirits that provide hope for those who’ve suffered from the same unfortunate acts.
Here, we’ll explore some of the ways that survivors of sexual abuse have been able to cope and function in society.
Acceptance
Perhaps the first step in any healing process is to accept the fact that you’ve been hurt in some way. In many cases of sexual abuse, victims live for years in denial of the mental anguish that followed their abuse.
Many survivors of abuse claimed to hold anger over their abusers to the point that it manifested in the form of uncontrollable emotions. But studies have shown that those who can openly admit that they were abused have an easier time letting go of the pain and emotional attachment that developed after the abuse.
For example, many of those who were the victims of sexual abuse from church clergy have come forward and admitted their abuse. And this public admission of victimization, and the punishments that have followed their abusers, has proven to help them move forward with their lives.
Reconnecting with Your Body
Survivors of sexual abuse have often admitted feeling as though their bodies no longer belonged to them. And psychologists believe that it’s the traumatic loss of autonomy that causes this phenomenon.
Some victims of sexual abuse who have shared these feelings of a separation of autonomy have looked to activites which require rhythmic bodily movements. Such activities as sports, dance, yoga, and Tai Chi have often proven to be beneficial when it comes to coping with abuse and the feeling of bodily separation.
Those who have successfully moved on from sexual abuse often report becoming much more active in life, even more active than they were before the act of abuse occurred. Victims have even reported a surge in self-confidence as time went on and they were able to fully heal from their abuse.
Focusing the Mind
Our minds and our bodies are not separate entities operating independently from one another. The truth is, our minds and bodies are one unit dependent on one another for proper function and survival.
When we are out of balance, this is a direct reflection of our internal system being exposed to trauma or stress of some sort. And sexual abuse is indeed a traumatic event that can sever our natural mind-body connection.
Some victims of sexual abuse have turned to the practice of meditation in order to restore inner peace and to repair the connection between mind and body. This has proven to have a tremendously positive effect on the overall mental health of survivors of sexual abuse.
Meditation techniques focus the mind on the most basic fundamental of life–breathing. It’s within this space where one learns to acknowledge feelings and emotions without judgement or attachment while focusing on the breath.
Surviving sexual abuse, or abuse of any kind, takes great courage and willpower. It’s not an easy task to lose one’s sense of self and be expected to return to society to function in an otherwise normal capacity. But with will and determination, one can ultimately defeat the mental prison that sexual abuse is capable of placing its victims within.
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