Unresolved Abuse

Dealing with abuse of any kind can be a very long process. Abuse is something that should not be taken lightly and those who have experienced abuse do deserve to be out of that situation and are worthy of love. 

Abuse victims often feel shame from their selves or their abuser which can make them resistant to talk about the abuse. Physical and emotional wounds occur from abuse, all of which will heal at different times for every person. Healing is possible but will take time. 

Different Types Of Abuse

There are many different types of abuse and multiple subcategories of abuse. Anything that is used to create a bad effect, or is done with cruelty or violence is considered abuse. Below is more information about different types of abuse and how they can affect your physical and mental health. 

Emotional

This type of abuse often doesn’t involve physical wounds, but impacts you internally and leaves lasting wounds on the individual. Emotional abuse can look like gaslighting, manipulation, degrading statements, shaming, or lack of support. 

Physical

Physical abuse involves the use of physical force. Acts like hitting, head butting, biting, shoving, kicking, fighting, stomping, choking, or other activities that lead to physical marks or bruises. 

Sexual

Sexual abuse is self-explanatory but can be experienced in different instances or at different ages. Sexual abuse refers to rape, molestation, trafficking, or other sexual act that is done without consent. 

Domestic Violence

Also known as intimate partner violence, this abuse usually occurs in people that live together or are in an intimate relationship. It can include physical abuse, financial control, psychological abuse, or technological abuse. Abusive partners will limit your access to family and friends. 

Bullying

Consistent and major bullying can count as abuse. Some forms of bullying are all-consuming and use manipulation and lies as forms of aggression. This can be labeled as abuse because the person is not able to get away from the trauma. Cyberbullying is one of the more common forms of bullying that is considered abuse. 

When To See A Therapist For Unresolved Abuse And Trauma

Any person who has experienced any form of abuse can benefit from proper therapy. Therapists can help diagnose mental illness and how your abuse has affected your cognitive function. 

Therapy can be effective in working through emotional issues and creating a safe space for you to grow. Red Willow Counseling wants to focus on your healing journey and works to listen closely to your goals. Therapy is not one size fits all, but collaborating with you and understanding your needs helps a therapist to work for you.

Common Symptoms Of Abuse

Each person will experience different symptoms and manifestations of symptoms after abuse. Children and adults will experience different symptoms or reactions but below are some common ones that occur in abuse victims. 

• Fear, anxiety, clinging
• Nightmares
• Missing school
• Hyperactivity
• Eating issues or the development of eating disorders
• Depression
• Destroying objects or hurting pets
• Self-harm
• Withdrawal
• Afraid of touch
• Speech disorders
• Development delay
• Phobias

Healing Is Not Linear

As you work through tough things and experience different emotions during therapy, your road to recovery will not be easy. Therapy really digs into what has occurred throughout your life to help you understand how to control many different emotions. It is not uncommon to have mood swings or days where you feel emotionally drained and super confident the next. 

Some abuse survivors may reexperience traumatic events and will go through waves of confidence and learning. Not all healing is linear and you may take one step forward and two steps back. Working through emotional, physical, or sexual abuse is going to be a long process, and focusing on the progress you continue to make may help make working through therapy easier. Therapy with Red Willow Counseling and Recovery in Salt Lake City will give you better-coping skills and help you deal with new challenges on your own.