Sexual trauma refers to any kind of emotional, physical, or verbal abuse that has a sexual component. It can be experienced at any age but is more commonly associated with childhood experiences. While it may not seem like it, this type of abuse can have far-reaching effects on an individual's ability to form healthy romantic relationships later in life. Sexual trauma alters physiological responses to intimacy by affecting neurological pathways responsible for pleasure and desire.
When someone has been subjected to sexual violence, their brain's limbic system becomes activated, which regulates emotions and memory processing. This leads to increased levels of cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine—the fight-or-flight hormones. These hormones prepare the body to respond quickly to danger, so when they are continually present during sex, the person may feel anxious or fearful instead of excited or safe.
Physiologically, sexual trauma creates an altered perception of touch because of changes in skin conductance level (SCL) response. SCL measures how much electricity flows through the skin and indicates arousal. People who have experienced sexual trauma typically have lower SCL responses than those who haven't, meaning they aren't as easily aroused. They also tend to experience decreased vaginal lubrication due to a decrease in blood flow to the genitals caused by an increase in heart rate and blood pressure from the release of these stress hormones.
Individuals affected by sexual trauma often struggle with intimacy issues such as trust, communication, and vulnerability. It's challenging to open up emotionally and share feelings without worrying about being rejected or betrayed again. This can lead them to become avoidant or anxious in relationships, making it difficult to form close connections with others.
Treatment options for this condition include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and mindfulness meditation. CBT helps patients change negative thought patterns related to their past experiences while teaching them coping skills for managing anxiety symptoms that arise during intimate situations. EMDR works on reducing distress associated with memories linked to abuse by rapidly moving eyes back and forth between two points in space while recalling specific moments from the event. Mindfulness involves practicing acceptance, nonjudgmental observation, and present-moment awareness techniques which help reduce reactivity to triggers related to sexual violence.
How does sexual trauma alter physiological responses to intimacy?
Research has shown that individuals who have experienced sexual trauma often struggle with regulating their physiological response to intimacy. This can manifest in several ways, including increased heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension during physical contact with a partner. The reason for this is likely due to the fact that the brain's ability to process touch and pleasure is affected by past experiences of abuse or assault.