Trauma and Health Implications

We have talked about the ways sexual abuse effects its victims long term. One of these ways can be through health problems. It has also been well documented over the years that those who suffer from a major upheaval in their life are more prone to disease exacerbation. It makes sense then that studies continue to show that sexual abuse survivors are more likely to experience health problems as a result of their trauma. 

"When a child grows up afraid or under constant or extreme stress, the immune system and body’s stress response systems may not develop normally. Later on, when the child or adult is exposed to even ordinary levels of stress, these systems may automatically respond as if the individual is under extreme stress. Children with complex trauma histories may develop chronic or recurrent physical complaints, such as headaches or stomachaches. Adults with histories of trauma in childhood have been shown to have more chronic physical conditions and problems.

Complexly traumatized youth frequently suffer from body dysregulation, meaning they over-respond or underrespond to sensory stimuli. For example, they may be hypersensitive to sounds, smells, touch or light, or they may suffer from anesthesia and analgesia, in which they are unaware of pain, touch, or internal physical sensations. As a result they may injure themselves without feeling pain, suffer from physical problems without being aware of them, or, the converse – they may  complain of chronic pain in various body areas for which no physical cause can be found.

Traumatic experiences in childhood have been linked to increased medical conditions throughout the individuals’ lives. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is a longitudinal study that explores the long-lasting impact of childhood trauma into adulthood. The ACE Study includes over 17,000 participants ranging in age from 19 to 90. Researchers gathered medical histories over time while also collecting data on the subjects’ childhood exposure to abuse, violence, and impaired caregivers.  Results indicated that nearly 64% of participants experienced at least one exposure, and of those, 69% reported two or more incidents of childhood trauma. Results demonstrated the connection between childhood trauma exposure, high-risk behaviors (e.g., smoking, unprotected sex), chronic illness such as heart disease and cancer, and early death."

http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/complex-trauma/effects-of-complex-trauma

GI problems, in fact may be second only to depression as the most frequent long term result of child sexual abuse. 

Studies show that as many as 71% of female children and adolescents sexually abused by an adult for more than two years -may later develop GI disorders. These disorders are often manifest through chronic abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) -a chronic condition that involves cramping and constipation alternating with diarrhea. Almost 1/3 of the women with these complaints have been found to be victims of rape or incest.

Child sexual assault survivors are: 

·    2½ times as likely to have pelvic pain and pelvic inflammatory disorder, breast diseases ranging from fibrocystic changes to cancer, and yeast infections;

·     1½ times more bladder infections;

·      More likely to have chronic pain, including backaches and headaches.  

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Forrest, M.S., The Relationship of Child Sexual Abuse to Medical Problems in Adulthood. The Healing Woman (Jan. 1994).

Drossman, D.A., et al. Sexual and Physical Abuse and Gastrointestinal Illness: Review and Recommendations. 123(10) Annals of Internal Medicine (Nov. 15, 1995): 782-794.

Leserman J.Sexual abuse history: prevalence, health effects, mediators, and psychological treatment..Psychosom Med. 2005 Nov-Dec;67(6):906-15

 http://www.humanehealthcare.com/Artic

These facts can feel like a big downer.  But knowledge is always POWER! The more you understand about yourself and your body the better you can learn to heal! The more you understand the reasons for things the less shame and blame you may also feel.