Managing Triggers and Flashbacks After Sexual Violence
Learn about practical strategies to help you cope with trauma responses related to sexual abuse. Professional guidance to help you understand and manage triggers on your recovery journey.
Understanding Sexual Violence and Abuse Triggers and Flashbacks
Triggers and flashbacks after sexual abuse are natural trauma responses that can make you feel like you're reliving past experiences. These responses often occur when something in your present environment - a sight, sound, smell, or situation - reminds your brain of past trauma. Understanding these responses is an important step in developing ways to manage them.
Common Challenges After Sexual Violence
Many survivors experience specific challenges with triggers and flashbacks. Understanding these experiences helps develop effective coping strategies:
Difficulty with physical intimacy or touch
Experiencing intense reactions to certain words or phrases
Struggling with personal care or medical examinations
Finding certain locations or situations overwhelming
Having unexpected physical responses to memories
Difficulty trusting in intimate relationships
Understanding Sexual Abuse Trauma
Building Your Sexual Trauma Recovery Toolkit
Learning to recognise your body's signals and developing techniques to feel safe in your body again.
Creating clear personal boundaries and learning to communicate your needs in relationships and intimate situations.
Developing environments and routines that help you feel secure and in control of your personal space.
Survivor Resources & Research
Learning from other survivors journeys can be a powerful tool, and make you feel much less alone. Access specialist articles, survivor stories, and evidence-based research about childhood sexual violence recovery and support.
Articles and guides covering trauma responses, recovery stages, and practical support strategies for survivors of childhood sexual violence.
A curated collection of poems written by survivors of sexual abuse, sharing personal experiences of trauma, healing, and recovery. *Please note that whilst this content is moderated you may find some of it triggering so please take care*
Key findings from our research , revealing crucial insights into sexual violence and abuse, how survivors access support services, costs to the NHS and survivor experiences, and more
With your support, we can help more survivors access the support they need when they need it. Every donation directly funds our work to supporting those affected by sexual violence.
