What you may be feeling

What you may be feeling

One in three female and one in six males are affected by sexual abuse by the age of 18* Australian Institute of Criminology 1993

The aftermath of childhood sexual has been shown to have profound impacts on the mental, emotional, cognitive, physical and social functioning of adult survivors. The range of negative consequences can leave survivors with feelings of mistrust, isolation, loneliness and alienation, making it difficult to socialize and form meaningful relationships.

You may be experiencing:

• Depression
• Powerlessness
• Anxiety
• Eating disorders
• Shame
• Alcohol/Drug misuse             
• Guilt
• Isolation and Alienation
• Sleep Disorders
• Low self-esteem
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Relationships and parenting difficulties
• Sexual Dysfunction
• Loneliness
• Poor physical
• Limited education and work achievement
• Self-harm
• Suicidality      

You are not alone, do not be afraid to seek help. There is a way to deal with these feelings. It means recovering from the experiences rather than trying to “cover them up” or burying them. Doing some reading about childhood sexual abuse can be a good first step. Seeking support from a qualified and experienced therapist can also be an important step towards recovery. Participants have found our groups have helped them regain their sense of empowerment, build their self-confidence, and improve their sense of belonging and connection in their relationships and community.