1. Physical pleasure is the sensation that occurs during or after stimulation of one's body. It can be experienced through touch, sight, sound, taste, smell, movement, or thought.
2. Trauma often results from an experience that causes intense fear, helplessness, or horror. This may include physical injury, sexual abuse, emotional mistreatment, natural disaster, or warfare. Traumatic experiences create long-term changes in brain functioning, mood, memory, and self-esteem.
3. Shame is the belief that one has done something wrong or failed to meet standards. It is accompanied by negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. When combined with trauma, shame increases vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.
4. People who have experienced trauma may feel ashamed about their bodies, desires, and relationships. They may believe they are unworthy of intimacy, sex, love, or connection. They may avoid close contact and hide their true selves.
5. Some people develop PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) following a severe trauma. Symptoms include intrusive memories, hypervigilance, flashbacks, nightmares, isolation, insomnia, and agitation. These symptoms interfere with daily life and make it difficult to trust others.
6. The shame associated with trauma makes it hard for some survivors to seek help for mental health issues. Instead, they may rely on alcohol, drugs, food, work, or other substances to cope.
7. Physical pleasure can be scary for trauma survivors because it reminds them of their past pain. They may fear rejection, loss of control, betrayal, or disappointment. This fear prevents them from enjoying intimate moments with partners.
8. Survivors who use pornography may become addicted, leading to further guilt and shame. They may feel powerless over their sexuality and unable to express themselves authentically.
9. Intimacy requires vulnerability, honesty, and openness. Trauma survivors often struggle to trust others and share their deepest feelings. They may prefer casual encounters that do not require emotional commitment.
10. Counseling and therapy can address the effects of trauma on shame and intimacy. Treatments like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) can heal traumatic memories and restore self-esteem.
How does trauma increase shame about physical pleasure?
Trauma can lead to increased feelings of shame around physical pleasure because it may trigger memories or associations with past experiences that were associated with negative outcomes. This can cause individuals to associate all forms of physical intimacy as potentially dangerous or harmful, leading them to feel guilty or ashamed for enjoying sexual activity.