According to the World Health Organization, one in three women, and one in six men, across the globe experience sexual violence. Sexual abuse can occur within different contexts, including marriages and intimate relationships. Understanding the signs of sexual abuse in adults is crucial for healing and recovery.
Sexual Abuse Definition and Examples
Sexual abuse includes any non-consensual sexual activity, including physical acts like rape, inappropriate touching, and molestation, as well as non-physical acts like manipulation, coercion, and sexual exortion. Examples of sexual abuse can also extend beyond physical violence and include acts such as forced exposure to private parts or pornographic material, oral sex, marital rape, and any sexual behavior that disregards the consent of the other parties involved.
What is Sexual Abuse in a Marriage?
Sexual abuse in a marriage encompasses nonconsensual sexual activities between partners. This abuse can manifest as pressuring a partner into sexual activities, ignoring consent, or using tactics to achieve sexual compliance.
It is important to remember that an intimate partner must freely give sexual consent for each activity – if your partner or spouse is uncomfortable with any sexual act, you must stop immediately and never try to emotionally blackmail or physically coerce them into doing something they are not comfortable with. Such behaviors degrade mutual trust, respect and boundaries, severely impacting the survivor’s mental, physical, and emotional health.
Types of Sexual Abuse in Adults
Sexual abuse in adults can vary in nature, and severity, but each type is intrusive and can have lasting impacts on the survivor:
- Inappropriate Touching, Groping, and Molestation: nonconsensual physical contact that invades personal boundaries
- Forced Sexual Acts: coercing, manipulating, or somehow forcing a person to engage in unwanted sexual activities
- Digital Abuse: sharing explicit images or videos without consent
- Sexual Harassment: unwanted sexual advances or behavior, particularly in workplaces
- Rape: physical sexual abuse involving nonconsensual penetration (with or without emission)
- Grooming: Using psychological tactics on people of an impressionable age to eventually exploit them in a sexual manner
What Does Sexual Abuse Do To a Person?
Sexual abuse inflicts profound trauma on survivors, severely affecting their mental, emotional, and physical well-being following the incident. It can significantly affect a survivor’s trust and feeling of safety. This can make it difficult to build and maintain healthy intimate relationships.
Physical Signs of Sexual Abuse
- Unexplained sexually transmitted infections
- Digestive problems or inexplicable stomach pain
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Unexplained injuries, such as bruises and cuts
Mental Health Concerns After Sexual Abuse
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression and in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts and tendencies
- Lack of energy or enthusiasm to engage in daily activities
- Anxiety
- Sleep disturbances or insomnia
- Hypervigilance
Behavioral Issues After Sexual Abuse
- Difficulty regulating emotions
- Substance abuse
- Self-harm tendencies
- Eating disorders
How Sexual Abuse Affects Interpersonal Relationships
- Fear of intimacy
- Difficulty establishing boundaries
- Trust issues
- Isolation from friends and family
- Challenges in maintaining healthy relationships
Signs of Childhood Sexual Abuse in Adults
Childhood sexual abuse can impact adult survivors in ways that are both obvious and covert. Many survivors repress memories of their abuse to cope with the trauma, which often manifests through seemingly unrelated emotional and behavioral issues:
- Difficulty Trusting Others (finding it challenging to trust people, impacting their ability to form healthy relationships)
- Low Self-Esteem (feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy)
- Aversion to Specific People or Settings (certain triggers can cause intense discomfort or fear)
- Struggles with Intimate Relationships (excessive dependence on relationships or an inability to form close bonds)
- Emotional and Behavioral Issues (such as anxiety, depression, and difficulty regulating emotions)
Sexual Abuse Myths and Facts
Sexual abuse is fraught with myths, obscuring the understanding that is essential for both survivors and advocates.
Myths and Facts About Sexual Abuse
Myth #1: Sexual abuse involves some form of physical contact.
Fact: Sexual abuse can encompass non-contact forms, such as exposure, voyeurism, or suggestive conversations, making it imperative to recognize all forms of abuse.
Myth #2: Sexual abuse survivors “ask for it” by dressing provocatively, acting promiscuously, or inviting the abuser to their home and life.
Fact: This harmful myth shifts the blame from the abuser to the victim, ignoring the reality that abuse is always the responsibility of the perpetrator.
Myth #3: If someone didn’t fight back or remained silent, they consented to the abuse.
Fact: The absence of physical resistance or vocal objection can result from fear, shock, or confusion, and does not imply agreement. Misunderstanding this obscures the true nature of consent and perpetuates victim-blaming.
Myth #4: Most sexual abuse lawsuits are false or filed for “revenge.”
Fact: The majority of sexual abuse claims are legitimate. False accusations are rare, and survivors often face significant barriers and stigma when coming forward.
How to Heal From Sexual Abuse
Healing from sexual abuse is a multifaceted journey that necessitates support, both professional and personal. If you are wondering how to heal from sexual trauma or how to help a loved one in their journey, here are some steps to consider:
- Reaching Out to Loved Ones: Building a support network of trusted friends and family can provide emotional comfort and strength.
- Consulting a Therapist: Professional therapy can help survivors process their trauma, develop coping strategies, and work through PTSD.
- Validating Yourself: Acknowledging and validating your experiences and feelings are crucial, even if others do not believe you.
- Joining a Support Group: Support groups offer a safe space to share experiences, gain insights, and bond with others who have faced similar challenges.
- Dealing with PTSD: Taking proactive steps to manage PTSD symptoms, such as mindfulness, physical activities, and professional help, can aid in the healing process.
- Reconnecting with Your Body: Activities like yoga, breath work, and physical exercise can help survivors reconnect with their bodies.
- Speaking to a Sexual Abuse Lawyer: Consulting a sexual abuse lawyer can help survivors understand their rights and options, such as filing a civil sexual abuse lawsuit.
Should I File a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
Pursuing justice through a civil lawsuit can be empowering for survivors of sexual abuse. You can file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit against the perpetrator and, in some cases, against a negligent third party.
Key Differences Between Civil and Criminal Cases
- Civil Lawsuits: These aim to hold perpetrators financially accountable and provide a platform for survivors to seek damages. They focus on compensating the survivor for their suffering and losses.
- Criminal Cases: Criminal cases seek to impose penalties through state prosecution, resulting in the potential imprisonment of the perpetrator. The primary goal is to punish the offender and protect society.
You can file either or both civil and criminal lawsuits against a perpetrator. The process of filing a lawsuit and sharing your story can help you hold the responsible parties accountable and achieve a sense of justice and closure.
