Sexual Abuse Treatment

Sexual Trauma

What is Sexual Trauma?

Sexual trauma is a the devastating result of sexual abuse, which affects both children and adults. Sexual trauma, in essence, is any lingering symptoms that remain with the individual after the sexual abuse has occurred. These symptoms can be emotional, psychological and/or physical in nature. Sexual abuse treatment is available and it can help.

The statistics are staggering. During sexual abuse treatments, child sexual abuse is reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater because the children are often afraid to tell anyone what has happened. The long-term emotional and psychological damage caused by sexual abuse is devastating to the child. The problem should be identified, the sexual abuse stopped and the child should receive immediate sexual abuse treatment.

Sexual abuse treatments are also required in cases of adult sexual abuse. In many of these adult cases, there is also the added complexities of an alcohol or drug addiction and/or a serious eating disorder like anorexia, bulimia or binge eating.

Sexual Abuse Treatment Programs

Since many people who are left to deal with the after-effects of the abuse tend to resort to various addictions in an attempt to cope with the feelings and memories generated from the sexual trauma. Because of this, sexual abuse treatments can take place in a variety of different treatment settings.

It is recommended that individuals who have been sexually abused and have become addicted to drugs or alcohol be admitted into a detox program located within a drug rehab or addiction treatment facility. The key to choosing a drug rehab facility for a person with a history of sexual trauma is found in the program's ability to effectively provide sexual abuse treatment in conjunction with the person’s drug addiction. Without effectively treating the sexual trauma and drug addiction co-currently, relapse is sure to occur.

Another service that is necessary when providing sexual abuse treatment is the psychiatric or dual diagnosis treatment component. When a person demonstrates psychiatric issues (depression, post traumatic stress disorder, etc.), in conjunction with a drug or alcohol addiction, this is referred to as a dual diagnosis. For dual diagnosis treatment to be effective inside a drug rehab, the illnesses must be treated simultaneously.

Keep in mind there is no perfect drug rehab or addiction treatment program able to provide sexual abuse treatment today. You have to take the time to match the needs of the person suffering from sexual trauma with the treatment services offered in the drug rehab or addiction treatment program.