Monday

Signs of Physical-Sexual Child Abuse in Adults

As an adult have you experienced-but not limited to the following?

• Little or no memory of childhood-age 3 to 12
• Trouble with relationships-on the job, in your family
• Low self-esteem
• Panic attacks-mild to severe
• Anxiety
• Phobias
• Depression
• Inability to trust or trusting indiscriminately
• alcohol/drug abuse
• Obsessive compulsive behavior
• Nightmares of being chased, trapped or surreal
• Sensory flashes-unable to identify images
• Insomnia
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts
• A sense of going crazy or feeling unreal compared to others
• Shame, guilt
• Sense of underlying humiliation
• Baseless crying
• Angry outbursts/rage seemingly for no reason
• Inability to recognize feelings
• Mood swings
• Emotional shut down
• Numbing or zoning out
• Arthritis/joint pain
• Diagnosis of ADD or ADHD,
• Labeled an 'airhead'
• Chronic/acute fear
• Headaches/migraines
• Eating disorders-anorexia, bulimia, obesity
• PMS
• Vaginismus
• Gastrointestinal/gynecological disorders
• Chronic fatigue
• MS
• Fibromyalgia
• Lupus
• Chronic back pain-L3, L4 and/or L5 region
• Cancer-predominately-vaginal, cervical or ovarian in women; testicular, prostate in men; however cancer of any kind can be as a result of physical or sexual abuse. Cancer is anger/rage turned against the self
• Prostitute/promiscuous sex
• Inability to orgasm
• Dissociative Identity Disorder-Multiple Personality Disorder
• Self-injury-self-abuse, self-mutilation (cutting, burning, breaking bones, pinching skin, ingesting, injecting and inserting foreign materials, interfering with the healing process of wounds, punching, slapping, picking skin, pulling hair, bloodletting, tattooing, piercing
• Wearing baggy clothes or clothes a size or two sizes too large
• Aversion to opposite sex-including homosexuality/lesbian
• Use of pornography-print, video
• Enjoy peep shows, topless dancers
• Become a porn star or pimp
• Sex offenders-male and female

If you have experienced one or more of these 'symptoms' you are more likely a physical and/or sexual abuse survivor than not--albeit you may have no memory.

Healing the emotional wounds of physical or sexual abuse is possible. Talk therapy, antidepressants and/or antipsychotic drugs are inadequate to uncover the emotional pain, and heal the trauma trapped in muscles and tissue. To fully appreciate the depth of this pain, I will quote one of my clients, "Even my blood hurts." A multifaceted healing process specifically focused on physical and sexual abuse recovery and diligent work is the most effective; wherein the survivor can replenish their emotional and spiritual identity and empowerment.


Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, "If I'd Only Known...Sexual Abuse in or Out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

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God didn't put you with an abusive mate. Your flesh did.