Emotional trauma is a form of psychological damage caused by experiencing intense and unbearable stress that can lead to feelings such as hopelessness, helplessness, powerlessness, fear, anger, guilt, self-blame, shame, loss of trust, and betrayal. It often results from experiences like abuse, neglect, violence, accidents, losses, bullying, natural disasters, war, and illness. Emotional trauma can cause long-term changes to the brain and body's response system, impacting mood, behavior, thinking, memory, relationships, and physical health. Sexual trauma is also known as sexual abuse, which involves unwanted sexual activity or contact without consent. This includes rape, incest, childhood molestation, coercion, exploitation, stalking, humiliation, and harassment. These types of traumatic events can severely affect people emotionally, physically, and socially for years.
Impact of emotional trauma on relational outcomes
Emotional trauma can have various effects on relational and sexual outcomes. People who experience it may find it difficult to form secure attachments, establish intimacy, set boundaries, communicate their needs, and regulate emotions in relationships. They might struggle with trust issues, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and difficulty expressing love and affection. Emotional trauma survivors often feel vulnerable and unsafe in romantic partnerships due to past experiences, making them more prone to rejection and abandonment.
Impact of sexual trauma on relational outcomes
Sexual trauma can negatively influence relational outcomes by creating distrust, fear, shame, guilt, and insecurities around sex. Victims may avoid intimate relationships altogether or develop unhealthy patterns like promiscuity, manipulation, or control to manage feelings of powerlessness, betrayal, and confusion. Others might engage in risky behaviors such as casual sex, one-night stands, multiple partners, and pornography. It is also associated with higher rates of relationship problems, including infidelity, abuse, and violence.
Interaction between emotional and sexual trauma
The interaction between emotional and sexual trauma can be complicated and challenging to navigate.
A person who has experienced both types of trauma might feel disconnected from their body, unable to enjoy sexual pleasure, or view sex as dangerous or harmful.
Emotional trauma can lead to sexual dysfunction, while sexual trauma can cause flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks, and other negative physical symptoms during sex. The combination of the two traumas can create a cycle of self-blame, guilt, and shame that further perpetuates anxiety and isolation.
How do emotional trauma and sexual trauma interact to influence relational and sexual outcomes?
Research on sexual and emotional trauma suggests that they are closely linked and can have significant impacts on an individual's relational and sexual outcomes (e. g. , social interactions, romantic relationships, sex life). Individuals who experience both types of trauma may face greater difficulties in forming and maintaining healthy interpersonal connections due to increased feelings of distrust, fear, anxiety, and shame.