Sexual trauma



Breaking taboos, breaking silence.



Sexual violence is common. Sometimes, it can be hard to recognize that you’ve experienced it—especially because the body often goes into shock. Getting the right kind of therapy is important. Research shows that sexual trauma rarely heals on its own. Many people learn to live with their trauma without seeking help. But PTSD can be triggered by subtle, often subconscious factors—even years later. That’s why it’s never too late to seek treatment.

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Crossing a line



Sexual abuse can take many forms



What makes sexual trauma so complex is how it weaves together deep physical, emotional, and psychological layers—often disrupting a person’s sense of safety, trust, and identity.


Many countries have consent laws, which means that all sexual activity must be voluntary and clearly agreed upon. Without this, it is considered illegal. Sexual abuse or exploitation can include things like being groped, pressured to send nude images, threatened, or coerced into sex. It can also involve someone misusing their position of power or taking advantage of a person’s vulnerability. The perpetrator can be a partner, a stranger, or someone close to the victim. And yes—it also happens that children sexually exploit other children.



8 children per class





8 children per class in schol are subjected to sexual abuse. 2 children per class are subjected to incest (sexual abuse by family member or relative).



One in three women





According to the World Health Organization, one in three women worldwide has been subjected to sexual or physical violence. But boys and men are also victims—though their experiences are often underreported and hidden in the statistics. It's estimated that one in three to four children is sexually abused, yet only one in ten ever tells an adult. Among boys who are victims, 62% report that the perpetrator was female. For girls, 98% of the perpetrators are male. (Source: The General Children’s Home Foundation, 2021)


Women and men





Both women and men, girls and boys, can be victims of sexual violence. Likewise, perpetrators can be of any gender and can commit physical, emotional, or psychological forms of sexual abuse. Data from 2021 shows that a majority of reported perpetrators are men or boys (86%). However, it’s important to recognize that sexual violence occurs across all genders—and that many cases go unreported, especially when the perpetrator is female. (Source: The General Children’s Home Foundation, 2021)


94% have PTSD





94% show PTSD symptoms in the first week after sexual abuse. Over time, the symptoms decrease, but individuals can react to subtle "triggers" even years after the abuse occurred, and they may adapt to the trauma. Therefore, it is extremely important to receive the right therapy and support so that PTSD can heal fully.


But PTSD is not the only diagnosis that may occur after sexual abuse. CPTSD, DID, eating disorders, obesity etc. are also common.



Find the right care



Not all therapy fits all types of sexual trauma



The type of therapy that works best depends on several factors—such as the depth of the trauma, the person’s current capacity to process it, and early experiences like safety and attachment during childhood. Since the effects of sexual abuse and PTSD can last for many years, it’s important to seek help—even if the abuse happened a long time ago.


When looking for care, it’s important to know that some therapy methods are less effective for deep or prolonged trauma, such as incest or repeated abuse over years of time. In these cases, specialist treatment may be needed—something that is still largely lacking in today’s healthcare systems.


Many people learn to live with their symptoms without realizing they’re still affected by the trauma. But this often comes at the cost of their physical and mental health. There’s also a significant lack of trauma awareness in healthcare, and the symptoms of sexual trauma are often mistaken for unrelated physical or psychological conditions. As a result, many people never receive the treatment they truly need.


Trauma-based therapy methods

What is sexual abuse?



Have you ever felt afraid during sex? Afraid of what might happen if you didn’t have sex? Have you ever felt pressured? Or gone along with sex even when you weren’t sure you wanted to? Have you sent nudes or been touched in ways you didn’t fully agree to? Negative sexual experiences can sometimes be hard to define—but if something didn’t feel right, or left you uncomfortable, those feelings are important to pay attention to.


If you’ve ever felt forced or pressured into sex against your will, it is classified as sexual abuse. According to the law in many countries, sex must happen with mutual consent. This means that everyone involved agrees freely and willingly—without pressure, fear, or manipulation.


Lack of consent isn’t always loud or obvious. It can look like: Being pressured into sex, being coerced into touching someone, being caught off guard and not given time to respond or even being subjected to something you didn’t agree to during sex.
Consent can be withdrawn at any moment—if you don’t want it, it’s not okay. Uncertainty is also a vulnerable state. If someone takes advantage of your hesitation—through manipulation, pressure, threats, or if you’re intoxicated or underage—it is still to be considered sexual abuse.



Often someone you know



The person who abuses can be of any gender. The most common scenario is that the perpetrator is someone you already know. This can be someone you meet online, meet in person, or someone you’ve known for a long time.


It can be a partner crossing the line, it can be a family member (incest), or it can be an acquaintance or a friend. It can also be a stranger. Perpetrators sometimes drug drinks at clubs or exploit someone who is intoxicated. Sexual abuse can also occur after flirting online, sending nudes, or through dating. Children can also commit sexual crimes against other children.



Treatment recommendations



If you are looking for treatment, you can ask a doctor to be referred to a trauma therapist who works with Lifespan Integration, EMDR, or RTM. Ask to be placed on a waiting list if they cannot offer these methods. If you are offered medication, therapy has been proven to be more effective as treatment, and meds alone will not heal sexual trauma at its core. If possible, you can also choose to pay for private treatment. Remember that sexual trauma rarely goes away on its own; rather, people often learn to live with their symptoms.


Below are some recommendations but keep in mind, everyone is different, and how a treatment works will differ depending on the individual, the situation, and therapist.



RTM





This method is recommended for all levels of sexual trauma and has been proven to be very effective, gentle, and with low risk of re-traumatization.



Lifespan Integration





This method is recommended for all levels of sexual trauma and has been proven to be very effective, gentle, and with low risk of re-traumatization. A study at WONSA showed that 70% of patients who had experienced a single incident of abuse (a one-time abuse) were no longer suffering PTSD after just one 2-hour treatment.



EMDR





Often works well for many with sexual trauma.

However, patients with deeper traumas (CPTSD) may experience this method as difficult, but for some it may work well, especially alongside neurofeedback treatment. In EMDR, the therapist has less control over the amount of exposure (compared to eg. Lifespan).



Prolonged exposure





Often works well for patients with less deep sexual traumas (PTSD).

It may not always work for patients with deeper traumas, such as childhood abuse (CPTSD), as there is a risk of re-traumatization and drop-out, because of the high level of exposure.



Talk therapy





Can work to manage general anxiety, but does not heal sexual trauma.

Not recommended for treating sexual trauma itself. Just talking about, for example, the details can risk re-traumatization. If the trauma seems healed despite not having undergone trauma treatment, there is a risk that the perceived healing has to do with emotional numbing and detachment from the abuse.



Common reactions



after sexual abuse



It’s common to go into shock after experiencing sexual trauma. This can make it difficult to talk about what happened—or even to seek help. Some people enter a state of denial (to protect themselves from their own emotions) and may not want to acknowledge that they’ve been sexually abused. For others, the idea of getting help can feel too overwhelming, as it brings the trauma back to the surface. So they bury it, try to move on, and act as if nothing happened. But healing is possible—and support is available.


Many organizations offer help through trauma-informed support persons. Common emotional and physical reactions may include anxiety, worry, sleep disturbances, panic, chronic stress, jaw tension, emotional numbness, migraines, nausea, digestive issues, or social withdrawal. In cases of rape, the body often responds with one or more of the instinctive survival reactions known as the 4Fs: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn (more on that below).


Support

4F: Reactions to trauma



Which of the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn reactions you experience depends on the situation, and you may experience them simulaneously or in different moments.


FIGHT Wanting to cry, staring, jaw tension, anger.


FLIGHT The urge to move, worry, short breaths, the feeling of being trapped and wanting to get away.


FREEZE Stiffness, difficulty moving parts of the body, heart rate slowing down (sometimes speeding up), difficulty breathing properly.

FAWN Inability to say no, apologizing, wanting to support and praise the perpetrator to avoid conflict or lessen the violence, minimizing one’s own needs and putting others' needs first. You may also try to please, become ingratiating, and feel happy as part of this defense reaction.



Triggers



After sexual trauma, the body and brain have learned to be hyper-alert. This means that the brain registers signs that the situation might occur again.

For example, the brain may react when it detects a scent that reminds you of the abuse, or when you see a person who resembles your perpetrator. Triggers that remind you of the abuse can be very subtle and hard to understand. This is why symptoms of abuse are often mistaken for other problems such as migraines, social phobia, or addiction. Because of this, it is important to seek trauma-based therapy after sexual abuse. Read about support further down.


The symptom pattern that arises after abuse is often what is called PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.


PTSD & triggers

Therapy can feel triggering at first



Starting therapy can sometimes feel like things are getting worse before they get better. Even taking that first step—booking an appointment or walking into a clinic—can feel overwhelming. That’s because seeking help means acknowledging what happened, and that alone can stir up painful memories. It's natural to want to avoid anything that reminds you of the trauma. But even if it feels hard, reaching out for help is a vital step toward long-term healing.


If therapy feels too intense or overwhelming, speak with your therapist about slowing the pace. Taking smaller steps or trying a different therapeutic method might make the process more manageable. And remember—just showing up is an act of courage. Whether you’ve made a call, seen a doctor, or sat down in the therapy chair, give yourself credit. You’re facing your history not to relive it, but to move through it—with the support of a safe, trauma-informed space and a professional who can guide your healing.


Organisations

Support persons



Remember that you can always ask someone to accompany you. Several support groups offer support persons who can go with you to the doctor or assist you with your thoughts when seeking care. You can also get help making a police report, including emotional support as well as advice, planning, and preparation.


Types of sexual violence



Here are some ways in which sexual violence may occur.



Physical



Physical sexual assault: This involves any unwanted or forced physical contact of a sexual nature, including touching, groping, kissing, or penetration.



Verbal



Sexual transgressions expressed verbally: These can be any unwanted or forced sexual comments, suggestions, or jokes. It can also include sexual harassment or the use of sexual language to scare or humiliate someone.



Lack of consent



Sexual activity without consent: This involves any sexual activity that occurs without explicit and enthusiastic consent from all parties involved. This can include sexual activity that happens when someone is asleep, intoxicated by drugs or alcohol, or unable to give consent due to age or shock.



Exploitation



Sexual exploitation: This involves using someone for sexual purposes in exchange for something else, such as money, drugs, or other services.


PTSD doesn't go away on its own



A common consequence of sexual assault is developing PTSD. Experiencing PTSD is common among victims of sexual assault. In a study by the National Center for PTSD, about 94% of women who were raped experienced PTSD symptoms within the two weeks following the event, and 30% continued to experience symptoms after nine months. It’s likely that this 30% could be much higher, as people often learn to adapt to their symptoms, which is why they may not always be detected in healthcare. PTSD can also resurface later if left untreated.


PTSD symptoms can include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance behavior, severe anxiety, and hyperarousal.

C-PTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a more severe and long-lasting form of PTSD that can develop after repeated or prolonged trauma, such as childhood abuse or domestic violence.



Triggers are events or situations that can evoke memories or emotions associated with the traumatic event. Triggers can vary from person to person and may include sights, sounds, smells, or other sensory experiences related to the traumatic event. These triggers can arise quite subconsciously, causing confusion for the person who experienced the trauma, without understanding that their emotional distress is actually caused by the underlying trauma.


Therapy can be a useful tool for survivors to process their trauma. By focusing on the underlying cause of the symptoms, rather than just treating the symptoms themselves, EMDR and Lifespan Integration therapy can help survivors of sexual assault heal deeply and regain a better quality of life.



EMDR & LI therapy



There are different methods, with EMDR and LI (Lifespan Integration) being recommended for the treatment of sexual trauma. However, for deeper traumas such as severe abuse, repeated abuse, and incest, Lifespan Integration is the most effective method, as other methods may be too difficult to process. This often concerns individuals with a C-PTSD diagnosis.

One of the recommended methods is LI (Lifespan Integration), which works with a broad perspective and anchors memories within a person's life timeline. LI aims to repair ruptures in a person’s life story caused by traumatic experiences and create a sense of cohesion and wholeness. LI is sometimes described as "easier" to undergo than EMDR for complex traumas, such as childhood abuse.



EMDR involves a series of eye movements, sounds, or taps that help the brain process traumatic memories and change negative emotions and beliefs associated with them. By doing so, EMDR helps the individual gain a new perspective on the traumatic event, reduce its emotional intensity, and promote healing. Both EMDR and LI are effective therapeutic methods for treating sexual trauma, with very positive results.


You can ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist trained in EMDR or LI. You can also privately search for a therapist near you and contact them. If you find it difficult, ask someone you trust to help, or reach out to an organization supporting survivors of sexual assault that can help connect you with a good therapist. Some organizations also offer support groups.



Support organisations



Support groups, support people & organisations that offer help. Click the button below to go to our support-page.

Support page

Filing a police report



You don’t have to go through a police report on your own. There are many support organizations that can offer, for example, a support person who can accompany you and provide assistance. Everyone has the right to a victim’s counsel/lawyer.


You can start by filing a police report by calling, or visit the police station, and briefly explain what happened and what you want to report. When the police ask for more information, you can state that you don’t want to provide any further details until you have a victim’s counsel or a lawyer (whose fees are covered by the state, but this may differ depending on your region). Your local support organisation can help you with this, prior to filing the police report.


After filing the report, you will be called for an initial interview with your lawyer. You can choose a lawyer beforehand, and the police will send them an assignment, or they will appoint one for you. You can also request the police to inform you about the steps in the process, and they will provide updates, such as when they contact the perpetrator, etc.

You can browse support organisations on our support page.



Statue of limitations



Is the crime time-barred? Legal regulations may differ depending on region or country.


In Sweden, the statute of limitations is 10 years for regular rape and 15 years for aggravated rape. For children who have been victims, the statute of limitations starts from the time they turn 18. However, since 2020, a new law was enacted, which decided that the statute of limitations no longer applies to sexual offenses against children committed after 2020. This means that you can report sexual offenses against children no matter how long ago the crime occurred. According to the previous statute of limitations law, the following applies: You can report up until the age of 28 if the case concerns child rape. If it concerns aggravated child rape, you can report until the age of 33. Aggravated rape can be considered when the child is very young, if threats and violence are used, if multiple perpetrators are involved, or if the assault itself is deemed particularly severe. Want to learn more? Legislation is constantly being updated. Check RAINN or your local organisation for more information.



SRHR & Sexual Health Education



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