Welcome to the July 5, 2009 edition of recovery from childhood sexual abuse. This edition explores the impact sexual abuse has on the body and on people's body image. There has been an exciting variety of blog posts submitted. As always, thank you to those who have taken the time to submit a post. How sexual abuse impacts on the body seems to be one of the issues that people don't pay a lot of attention to. I wonder, could it be the generally distorted relationship people have with their body? Be it as it may, I trust that you will find interesting information in this edition. For the full-length posts click on each title-link. I'd love to hear what you think!
Our Little Secret posted at The Viewspaper » The Viewspaper. saying: The first time it happened, she was rooted in her place, unable to move, shocked into submission. She didn’t protest, by words or gestures. She just stared into the ground, unseeing. He was saying something to her but she couldn’t comprehend his words. She didn’t know what to do. So she just stayed there.
The Body Pays The Price posted at Multiple Voices, saying: Leonie was very tired. Her shoulders have dropped and her head had fallen forward resting on her chest. Unable to muster the strength needed for balancing her head upright on her fatigued body, Leonie feels the floor opening and becoming a vortex inviting her into the never ending downwards spiral. She hears a seductive whisper beckoning her to succumb, “Let go, let go. You have fought long enough. You can rest now!”
DID and the Body: Driving a Courtesy Car posted at Multiple Voices, saying: Whenever I bring my car to the garage for service I have to ‘play it right’ to get a courtesy car. I can’t just go and be sure to have one given to me. The usual answer is “…sorry madam, there are no cars left.” I have to put myself into the shoes of the car people to get a courtesy car. For example, I walk around their cars for sale and let drop in passing that I am starting to look for a new car. I usually also mention that “…this is my third car I bought from you people”. More often than not, that’ll get me a courtesy car.
Body Image Acceptance: Operation Beautiful, posted at Dr. Kathleen Young: Treating Trauma in Chicago, saying: Every now and then I stumble upon a resource or an idea so great I cannot wait to share it with others. Operation Beautiful is such an idea. The mission: Post encouraging notes in public places for other women to find. Negative body messages are everywhere. We are so inundated that many internalize and have a constant body critique running in their heads.
The Impact of Abuse, posted at Multiple Voices, saying: The trauma of sexual abuse is most harmful to a person’s self-development because it signifies the severing of intersubjective connections with caring others. Honneth (1995b, p. 132) understands sexual abuse as the withholding of recognition through love that deprives a person of “…The successful integration of physical and emotional qualities [which are] subsequently broken up from the outside, thus lastingly destroying the most fundamental form of practical relations-to-self, namely, one’s underlying trust in oneself”.
My body belongs to me: Review posted at Momma's Gone Over the Wall, saying: Some of you may know that I went to college for Social Work. In order to complete my degree, I chose to do my internship at a local rape crisis/sexual assault center. Part of my work included counseling, going along to medical appointments, and offering support in court. Over and over, I found myself working with children, and it broke my heart. Here I was, a mom, seeing the hurt on these little kids' faces. It terrified me.
Stacey's Story: posted at Survivor Moms Speak Out, saying: While practicing full-time as a community-based midwife, I had the opportunity to work with many women who were survivors, either of childhood sexual trauma, rape, or both. The experience of being their midwife, and witnessing their challenges and triumphs encouraged me to learn more about the effects of trauma on the body, and on the experience of childbearing specifically.
Child Abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime, posted at Moody Monica, saying:There are many forms of abuse…but the result is the same- serious physical or emotional harm. Physical or sexual abuse may be the most striking types of abuse…since they often unfortunately leave physical evidence behind.
Stress Can Be Bad For Your Body, posted at Gudrun Frerichs.Com saying: Chronic stress can lead to a number of behavioural changes and physical health problems. When a person is subjected to stress the body responds with activating the neuro-hormone ‘Corticotrophin Releasing Factor’ (CRF). In the case of chronic stress this release is increasing in length and volume in areas of the brain associated with fear and emotion.
What's the big, fat deal about body image? posted at Blogging Therapy, saying: When you look at your body in the mirror, two things occur. First, you see the body’s physical structure; its size, shape, texture, curves, and nuances – great and small. Then comes the part that’s hard to control – the thoughts and comments that swirl about our brains concerning the body in that mirror. Oh man, can those cause trouble! It’s usually at this point when most of us look at our bodies and berate ourselves for not having that flat stomach, or shapely thighs and buttocks, or taut breasts and biceps that many of us crave.
Prevent Your Child From Being Sexually Abused posted at No More Hurt, saying: A primary goal in the prevention of sexual abuse is educating children about educating children about personal safety. Many parents feel uncomfortable discussing sexual abuse with their children. That’s normal. But by talking to your children about personal safety and private parts, the issue of sexual abuse becomes less threatening.
Body Memories: The Body Remembering posted at Discussing Dissociation, saying: In the television show “One Life To Live” — Bess tried to rescue Jessica one more time by taking baby Chloe and going on the run. Their secret had gotten out — baby Chloe belonged to someone else and the dear little one was not Jessica’s baby at all. Tess was angry with Bess for trying this last stunt. Every time Bess looked in the mirror, she would see Tess’s angry face making comments to her. Tess had plenty to say — she was not at all impressed with Bess.
Change Your Mood With Your Body posted at Gudrun Frerichs.Com, saying: One thing is sure there are a whole lot of depressed people in this world. You can easily spot them when you observe people while sitting at the beach, waiting for the next bus, or sipping a wonderfully brewed Moccacino. They usually are walking hesitantly rather than striding confidently, avoiding looking at people, slouching with their upper body, having an earnest face or frown, and staring at the ground. The body expresses the person’s inner state and, equally, perpetuating it.
That concludes this edition. While you are on the blog-carnival homepage, have a look through earlier editions. The August edition will explore how survivors deal with/ feel about their Mothers. I am looking forward to your contributions
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