Recently I have been surprised by the number of clients, new or regular, who have become aware of how abuse has been affecting their lives. I am aware that perhaps this theme, particularly of sexual assault, has been more in the media especially with the “#MeToo” allegations of harassment in the workplace and beyond. This has certainly got many of us reevaluating how our cultural expectations have changed over the years. The policy “Zero Tolerance” for abuse, although officially put into place years ago, is now finally being taken very seriously.
One aspect of the issue of abuse- whether it is emotional, physical or sexual, is that in the past it was often not talked about; there was shame, guilt and self-judgment from the victims, which served to keep the reports of these incidents hidden. Before the vocation of psychology, people went to their family doctors or clergy. Then when there was no relief there, then it became counselors and psychotherapists who were trusted to hear these accounts and to explain to their clients, that their paralyzing fear, avoidance of certain situations, or even suicidal depression could be the aftermath of being the recipient of violence.
Symptoms can range from developing some obsessive behaviors like picking at the skin, ordering things in one’s environment in a very controlling way, or getting over anxious about children being out of one’s’ sight, avoiding socializing or getting triggered by loud conflicts. Even Autoimmune disorders like Fibromyalgia can develop because of a history of trauma from abuse. Be aware that children pick up triggers from their environment easily, and it is helpful to know some warning signs of abuse with them.
Few of us have had an ideal childhood or a peaceful life, so it is very unlikely that we can go through life without experiencing some kind of trauma. Since these behaviors and reactions can be also attributed to other stressors or even medical disorders, it is important that you find an accredited therapist who can make a full assessment for you.
When issues or behaviors are interfering with your ability to “have a life worth living” then you need to talk to a professional and in the case of abuse, get some treatment for trauma such as the Movement Therapy I practice, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Body Sensing or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, amongst others. It is not enough just to reveal and talk of these experiences (some of which may be preverbal); these visceral experiences need to be integrated into the appropriate areas of the brain, otherwise ongoing situations like nightmares, insomnia or flashbacks can interfere with your peace of mind.
If you suspect that abuse or traumatic experiences from the past are interfering with your present life, please contact me for an assessment. You deserve to have inner peace.
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