What Happens When the Feeling of Shame Conquers Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse?

[Tautoko Mai]

Shame is a definite part of the pain of child sexual abuse. Most of the time, people who get caught experiencing the trauma of childhood abuse become different persons right after the experience. While the abuse itself makes them feel shattered and incomplete, the corresponding feeling of shame makes them alter the kind of person they used to be. what is sexual abuse

The shame of being sexually abused as a child is a common sentiment for many of the victims. However, this doesn't entail that they should just be allowed to feel this way. In fact, many people who carry this emotion try to redeem their self-worth by making material accomplishments in life. Not all survivors of child sexual abuse become abusers when they grow up. There are also those who have endured living a life in complete denial of what happened to them. They become successful in obtaining material possession, wealth, power, and prestige. But have they actually healed the wounds of the past?

There are a lot of times when the feeling of shame overshadows the will to heal and recover. This happens when victims refuse to get help and be healed because they are too afraid to tell others that they were abused. And the reason why they are afraid to disclose it is simply because of the fear of embarrassment and rejection. Victims have this kind of wrong perception that the world around them may not be able to accept them as who they are and what they have suffered. They think that if their friends, family, and relatives find out that they were abused, they will be misjudged and looked down upon. indecent assault

Sadly for majority of child sexual abuse survivors, life will never be the same. If they continue to let the feeling of shame govern them, no single type of accomplishment in life, be it material or power, will erase the hidden wounds of the past. As long as they continue to be afraid that other people will view them negatively, they will always be haunted by that same experience many years back.

Because of the feeling of shame, victims numb the pain by themselves. But the problem is, they begin to self-destruct by the time they try to contain the aching flashbacks of the actual abuse. They are in desperate need of help and someone to talk to, but they are simply holding it back because the fear of embarrassment, humiliation, and shame is always there lingering in their minds. The consequence is that they will likely resort to means that can temporarily flush out the painful memories. This includes the use and dependence towards drugs and alcohol. As soon as they become addicted, their lives are shattered. Rape Victim Support

Although there exist a lot of counseling and recovery programs out there, victims who fall prey and succumb to the feeling of shame will never reach the stage of healing. They will be put in a stage where there is no progress. Even if they manage to hide the childhood sexual abuse experience to others, the memories of it will never cease to exist in their minds as long as they fail to face and fight it.

View More - How to Help Rape Victim