Adult Survivors of Abuse
Childhood abuse can be
classified as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or any
combination. All childhood abuse involves the violation of a
child’s trust by an adult or a person of authority.
When exposed to abuse, children learn to protect themselves using various coping mechanisms.
These ways of coping may
continue into adulthood even though they are no longer needed for
protection.
Some examples of coping styles
include denial, withdrawal, acting out, and self-blame. Some
behavioral effects resulting from childhood abuse may include
nightmares and sleeping problems, sexual acting out, and difficulty
touching or being touched. Sometimes alcohol and drug abuse, as well
as eating disorders, are prevalent in a person who is attempting to
erase and dull the memories and the pain.
Many survivors never told
anyone. They may have been threatened, shamed, and
disbelieved. Sometimes their disclosures were ignored or
minimized. Some were punished for their disclosures.
Adults abused as children
often have feelings of guilt, shame, fear, anxiety, and depression.
Often they have difficulty trusting, difficulty with intimacy and
with friendships. Some adult survivors tend to be controlling with
others in an attempt to not be hurt again. This may also
interfere with healthy relationships.
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy provides a safe,
supportive, nonthreatening environment where you can better
understand what happened to you as a child. Your therapist
will help you to explore what coping mechanisms you are using that
might be a result of your childhood abuse and are no longer adaptive
and productive for you today.
You and your therapist can work
together to develop new skills in order for you to achieve your
needs. Therapy can help you lessen the emotional and behavioral
effects caused by your abusive childhood and allow you to move
forward and to engage in healthy relationships.