Growing up while experiencing some form of abuse can result in short-term and long-term psychological effects for people. Worst-case scenarios involve sexual abuse perpetrated by a relative, a friend, a neighbour, or a stranger.
Unfortunately, people of all ages battle sexual abuse every day. Its short-term effects involve changes in behaviour, self-esteem, sleeping patterns, and overall performance at school or work. Meanwhile, long-term effects include mental health issues, psychological disorders, and unwanted behavioural outcomes.
It’s also possible for victims of sexual abuse to have a natural tendency of blaming themselves for what happened to them during their adolescence and adulthood. If you want to know more about hypnotherapy as a way to help people who have experienced sexual abuse, then keep reading below.
Effects of Sexual Abuse on Health
People who have suffered through sexual abuse have more chances of undergoing epileptic seizures due to the changes in the part of their brain that controls their emotions. The sensations that could potentially lead to attacks involve sadness, humiliation, anger, and other intense feelings that could result in an imbalance in the brain.
Abnormal behaviour of a sexual abuse survivor can also be linked to aggression and self-destruction. Their lingering trauma can involve hormonal changes connected to a fragile part of the brain! As a result, they experience depression and retention problems, and they cultivate fear and anger towards the abuser.
Triggers of Sexual Abuse
Consulting with a doctor may be necessary to help eliminate the damage brought by sexual abuse. While it can be helpful, it’s still possible for victims to become triggered at one or several points in their lives. Triggers can happen when they least expect it, resurfacing and giving the victim a hard time to recover all over again.
All forms of abuse can leave a lasting mark on the disturbed person and can change their behaviour severely, including their beliefs and way of thinking. Their emotional and mental health is affected even after they become mature enough to clearly understand what happened.
Damage of Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse that occurs at a young age usually happens to boys and girls who are violated by unsuspected relatives or members of the family. Due to their lack of knowledge on sex, they don’t realise what happened to them until later on, when it hits them that their innocence was robbed early in their lives.
The damage that sexual abuse leaves on children can severely affect them, even more so once they gather the guts to tell their parents, but don’t receive the empathy they needed at the time. Therefore, it will result in more aggressive behaviour, possibly even leading to depression and severe emotional trauma.
Hypnotherapy for Sexual Abuse
For those who have lived through abuse, hypnotherapy can help the victims let go of the pain and trauma they’ve kept with themselves while growing up. Through therapy, survivors can be relieved from having to deal with the effects of abuse, allowing them to continue living their lives without the triggers to stop them.
A professional who can perform hypnotherapy can accommodate victims of sexual, physical, emotional, and psychological abuse and help them recover from other traumatic incidents during these times. Whether you had to live through it as a child or as an adult, you can still recover from it—just remember: it’s never too late to ask for help.
Conclusion
Hypnotherapy is a private method that requires professionals who are highly experienced to maintain your trust, especially when it comes to processing and recalling your past abuse. To help you let go of your bad experiences, it’s essential to rely on a hypnotherapist because they can guarantee you’re in a safe space to open up your bad memories and be properly guided on how to get rid of them.
Are you looking for hypnotherapy services in Leeds to help tackle sexual abuse problems? Paul Ramsden offers a wide range of solutions to help change your life, including dealing with smoking, bad food habits, anxiety and panic attacks, and more. We also offer online therapy through Skype or Zoom. Get in touch with us today to book an appointment.