Long Term Effects of Sexual Abuse

Problems managing feelings

• Feeling nothing
• Feeling overwhelmed or out-of-control
• Being depressed
• Exploding with anger suddenly
• Feeling anxious or restless
• Having panic attacks
• Having fears and phobias
• Acting compulsively to deal with feelings

Problems in relationships with other people

• Difficulties with trust
• Difficulties with intimacy
• Confusing affection, love, sex 

Problems with how you see yourself

• Confusion about personal wants, needs, feelings
• Feeling like you don’t know who you are
• Difficulty trusting one’s self
• Low self-esteem

Problems related to your body

• “Body memories”—feelings in your body like you did during the abuse
• Drug and alcohol abuse, addiction
• Self-destructive behavior and self-injury
• Suicidal thoughts, feelings, actions
• Problems with food or eating, such as under-eating or over-eating
• Problems with sexuality, such as avoidance or promiscuity
• Don’t care about your health

Dissociative Reactions (Disconnection)

• Day dreaming
• Spacing out / zoning out
• Losing time
• Feeling numb
• Feeling of disconnection from your body or parts of your body
• Dissociative Identity Disorder