Mental Health Week in Review: May 19-26

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Beth McHugh

This week we spent time looking at the anger that accompanies incidents of sexual abuse. In Anger and Sexual Abuse (1), we looked at how the twin themes of guilt and anger join together to keep a victim of sexual abuse caught in a horrific internal limbo of pain. Guilt and anger can co-exist inside the mind and body of a sexual abuse victim, but once the guilt is released, often through therapy, then anger and rage really come to the fore. Yet even then it may take two different forms, internalized anger and externalized anger. The latter may be … Continue reading →

Anger and Sexual Abuse (2)

Posted on May 22, 2008 by Beth McHugh

In Anger and Sexual Abuse (1) we looked at the role of guilt and anger in keeping victims of sexual abuse caught in a twilight world of unrelenting personal pain and anguish. Today we will focus more on the anger itself. The anger may have two origins: the anger directed at the self as a result of sexual assault and the anger directed outwards. The anger directed at the self is particularly destructive. Shawna was a very strong person, but she did not view herself that way. Her particular incident of sexual assault involved being held prisoner and she feared … Continue reading →

Anger and Sexual Abuse (1)

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Beth McHugh

In The Guilt of Sexual Abuse we looked at the issue of guilt and how it is such a common phenomena as to be almost expected after an incident of sexual assault. Today we will look at the anger associated with this insidious crime. Anger and guilt are the flip sides of the coin of sexual abuse. They are the daily currency for many victims of sexual crimes. But while guilt often appears soon after the abusive incident, anger can take much longer to come to the surface. Guilt, that is, taking responsibility for the abuse upon yourself rather than … Continue reading →