Healing from sexual trauma, in body and mind
How sexual trauma can affect mood, intimacy and the body, and what trauma-informed healing looks like.
Earl Johns, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of Wellthy Psychiatry & Wellness
✓ Medically reviewed by Earl Johns, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Sexual trauma can affect how safe you feel in your body, in relationships and in the world. Whether it happened recently or long ago, your reactions make sense, and healing is possible at your own pace.
Common effects
Flashbacks, nightmares, numbness, anxiety, depression, shame, trouble with intimacy and feeling disconnected from your body are common. Some people use alcohol or drugs to cope. None of this means you’re broken.
It wasn’t your fault
Whatever you were wearing, drinking or doing, and whatever your relationship to the person, sexual violence is never the survivor’s fault.
Trauma-informed care
You stay in control of what you share and when. Evidence-based therapies such as cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure and EMDR help many survivors. Medication can ease sleep problems, anxiety and depression.
Support right now
RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline is free and confidential at 1-800-656-4673. If you were recently assaulted, a medical exam can address injuries, STI and HIV prevention, including PEP within 72 hours.
A gentle next step
A free 15-minute phone consult is an easy way to see if Wellthy Psychiatry feels like the right fit for you.
This article is for general education and isn’t medical advice. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.
About the author
Earl Johns, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner · UCSF-trained · Founder of Wellthy Psychiatry & Wellness
Earl provides LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent-affirming psychiatric care, blending medication management, therapy and whole-person approaches. He sees clients in San Francisco and by telehealth across California.
Keep reading
Related posts
Getting kicked out: surviving family rejection as an LGBTQ+ person
Practical and emotional support for LGBTQ+ people who were kicked out or cut off by family, now or in the past.
Healing after conversion therapy
How so-called conversion or “ex-gay” efforts can leave lasting harm, and what recovery can look like.
When kink crosses a line: consent violations and healing
How consent violations in BDSM and kink spaces can cause real trauma, and how to heal without shame about your interests.
Religious shame and sex: healing for gay and queer men
Why faith-based shame can follow you into the bedroom, and practical ways to reconnect with pleasure and self-worth.