We have encouraged a culture of silence for so long that many people are still shocked when victim-survivors of sexual abuse come forward and speak up about their experiences. The reality is, victim-survivors carry pain, shame, and trauma throughout their lives and they may not fully realise or recognise what happened to them until later in life.
Our country is having a reckoning when it comes to sexual abuse, and support groups and counselling for victim-survivors has never been more important.
Understanding the Impact of Sexual Abuse
There are emotional and psychological consequences for victim-survivors of sexual abuse, and they can vary wildly from one survivor to another. However, many people report feelings of sadness, fear, and hopelessness that can manifest in anxiety and depression. In some instances, survivors experience nightmares, flashbacks, and hyper-vigilance with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Feelings of self-blame and shame are also common, with many victim-survivors struggling with feelings of guilt and a distorted self-perception.
There are long-lasting effects, with many victim-survivors struggling to form healthy relationships because they have a hard time trusting other people. They may also fall into substance abuse, using substances as an escape from their trauma or in an attempt to self-medicate.
The Benefits of Support Groups
While not everyone is comfortable sharing in a group situation, the reality of support groups is they provide a safe, supportive environment to share experiences. More to the point, they bring victim-survivors together, allowing everyone to connect with other people who have experienced similar trauma and with that comes a level of emotional validation many victim-survivors have never experienced.
The benefits of connecting with a support group are vast, including an improvement in interpersonal relationships, improved mood, reduced feelings of isolation, reduced shame, higher self-esteem, and learning different coping strategies from people who have similar experiences.
The Role of Counselling
For victim-survivors who find a support group daunting, counselling may be a good solution. Counselling is also a safe, supportive environment to share, but it’s one-on-one with a trained therapist.
A therapist can help you process your emotions to understand your feelings better, teach you different coping strategies to manage your anxiety and stress, encourage you to challenge your negative thoughts and choose self-compassion instead of self-blame, assist you in learning how to trust others to develop better relationships, and work with you to build a brighter future.
Finding the Right Support
Ultimately, you won’t know what type of support is right for you until you explore your options.
If you want to visit a local support group in person, check with your local mental health clinic, hospital, or community centre to see if they host any support groups or could recommend one. You can also ask your GP who will likely have several resources to recommend.
Alternatively, you can turn to the internet for an online support group. Many people find this preferable because it comes with the same benefits as physically attending a support group without the added pressure of sitting in a room to share your innermost thoughts and feelings. There’s also a chance you will find a more niche support group that more closely aligns with your specific situation.
If you don’t like the sound of a support group or you’ve tried one and didn’t prefer it, it might be time to pursue counselling for one-on-one attention with a therapist. When you look for a counsellor, ensure you choose someone who is experienced in trauma. You can ask your GP for recommendations.
If you want access to resources and immediate support, national hotlines are in place to help.
1800Respect can provide you with support for domestic, family and sexual violence.
Call the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, Lifeline on 13 11 14, 13YARN on 13 92 76 or, Bravehearts on 1800 272 831. If you grew up in a children’s home, orphanage, foster care, or a mission, you can turn to CLAN for assistance.
As a victim-survivor of sexual abuse, you may have several avenues open to pursue compensation and you should seek legal advice before deciding which path to pursue. A lawyer who specialises in the historical abuse litigation, including knowledge of the National Redress Scheme will sit down and listen to your experience and provide you with solid advice about your realistic options and which path is right for you.
How AJB Stevens Can Help
If you were the victim of childhood sexual abuse and you’re weighing your options, get in touch with AJB Stevens to discuss your case. If you want to submit an application to the National Redress Scheme (NRS), we can advise you on whether we think that’s the right path for you, or whether there are other options available, such as a civil claim. We’ll schedule a free sit-down and offer advice on your best option. We can also provide you with advice on how to access government-incentivised treatment programs for survivors of historical abuse.
