Was This A Trauma Too?

[Melosa]

I was sexually abused as a young child by a close relative, obviously that was Traumatic but I also witnessed the relative sexually abusing my infant cousin twice when I was about 9. My cousin was crying because my relative was being rough... I only saw this for a few seconds then I ran away to my bedroom. Would witnessing the abuse of my cousin count as a trauma or not?

 

[Eneb]

It would certainly count as vicarious trauma PTSD

 

[Melosa]

Wow, that was a quick reply. Okay, thanks for clarifying that as I wasn't sure.

 

[Malile]

Yeah, absolutely.

 

[Losov]

Yes, I'd say that it is something that could traumatize someone. I have known people who have been messed up from seeing pornographic images as a child, so yes, seeing sexual abuse can most definitely affect you in a negative way. I hope you can talk about this with your therapist.

 

[Melosa]

Thanks, it definitely had a negative effect, I was scared and confused and I sometimes struggle to get it out of my head. I go back to therapy in around 3 month's time, I will try to talk about it. I was also forced to watch pornography when I was11 by a male acquaintance the same age as me, even though it was just a video, it really upset me and scared me, it was explicit /very graphic.