Starting the healing process for sexual abuse survivors

In writing these hubs about sexual abuse I hope to promote awareness to the devastating effects that sexual abuse can cause to the victims and their families and friends. This hub is most important because it's the start of the healing process. I'm 44 now and I'm only on my way to healing myself, its not easy but its worth it in the end to heal you body soul and mind from the effects of sexual abuse. One important ingredient is love and support from family and friends if you can get that it makes the healing process so much easier. You must be able to face your fears and anguish and let it all out, this can be help from a trained counsellor. You must remember that you had this poison in your body for a long time that has been eating your body and soul like a cancer and in order to heal you must get that poison out and the best way for that to happen is to talk about the abuse your fears, nightmares, disgust and things that make you sad, the distrust of people and remember don't be afraid to cry and scream out loud what ever makes you feel better get the help that you deserve you are a loving soul you deserve to be happy, and free to enjoy life because it is true life is a gift and life can be wonderful.

So what has helped me heal well of course the love my family my wife my kids my friends, Yoga helps calm the mind and soul also taking natural supplements like bee pollen, fish oil. Fish oil is great for your mind and body herbal teas like green and Red rooibos as they are caffeine free and loaded with good antioxidants to help cleanse your body. Meditation you can buy meditation Cd's and also hypnosis Cd's are good I use them a lot.If you can stop drinking for awhile if you take recreational drugs try to stop taking things as these will only hinder your process try to get high on life like going for walks with family going to parks. I know its tough to actually want to get out and be around happy people when you feel like your at the bottom but basically you must take baby steps don't rush your healing let it come naturally don't be afraid to ask for help please don't try to do it alone. Get some counselling from a sexual abuse counsellor you might not have to pay for it as some government health agencies have sarc counsellors this will help you a great deal to get over your demons also a warning some on these government agencies might encourage you to take anti-depressants or like in my case they wouldn't help unless I did, although I refused, if you really need them sure and if it helps it's all good It's your choice but I would rather take the natural route like fish oil's which has a big wrap in coping with PTSD and anxiety and depression often it's just as good as those other drugs without all the side effects but of course its up to you as long as it gets you on the path to healing.

Look on the Internet for help and join a sexual abuse survivor forum and chat to people like yourself, don't be afraid to search for answers you are looking for do a test go out to a place that makes you feel uncomfortable and face your fears but don't go alone of course.

When you feel you are strong and coping OK and if you haven't already, reporting the abuse can be a great healer it was for me even though it didn't get very far it was just a relief to get it out of me it doesn't mater how long ago it was as I explained in my other hub(Reporting sexual abuse) to the police its all part of the healing process but of course a lot people don't bother with it especially males so that's ok it is a big step in reporting an abuse to the police and can cause a lot of emotional trauma if your prepared for it a lot of people get abused and just live with it they basically try to forget about it because the pain and hurt are to traumatic to face that's ok but in my experience it doesn't really heal you by letting it just sit inside you or the hurt, pain, shame and anguish its not good for you. Just be talking about it with someone heals you enough or like me writing about it and helping others letting them know they are not alone in all this is one of the most powerful healing weapons we have the empowerment to feel love and have compassion for each other to share knowledge and help each other in need as a survivor of sexual abuse I give this gift and honour you in this hub to the hope of healing you and remind you You are not alone.

Footprints

One night I had a dream--

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord

and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,

one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that many times along the path of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest

and saddest times in my life.

This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,

you would walk with me all the way,

but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life

there is only one set of footprints.

"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,

you should leave me."

The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,

I love you and I would never, never leave you

during your times of trial and suffering.

"When you saw only one set of footprints,

it was then that I carried you."