Recovering from Sexual Abuse, Addictions, and Compulsive Behaviors: “Numb” Survivors

by Munson; Carlton

• ISBN13: 9780789014573
• ISBN10: 0789014572
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-03-04
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Explore the connection between sexual victimization, addiction, and compulsive behaviors! This book demonstrates clearly what lengths survivors of sexual abuse will go to in attempting to avoid dealing with the pain resulting from their sexual abuse. Anyone who has been sexually abused is likely to have one of the addictions or compulsive behaviors described herein. The information in Recovering from Sexual Abuse, Addictions, and Compulsive Behaviors regarding codependency is especially useful to survivors of sexual abuse who now find themselves in abusive relationships. Survivors of abuse who have gone without treatment sometimes become either sexual perpetrators or sexual addicts and may experience many different types of psychological dysfunction. Recovering from Sexual Abuse, Addictions, and Compulsive Behaviors examines issues that survivors often have regarding: trust and friendship sexuality and sexual addiction marriage and family religious addiction as opposed to spirituality alcohol and substance abuse workaholism weight issues and eating disorders violence as the result of shame, fear, and depression caused by abuse Recovering from Sexual Abuse, Addictions, and Compulsive Behaviors is more than a litany of the problems that survivors face. This valuable work will show you: HOW the survivor came to employ addictive or compulsive behaviors WHY the survivor continues to employ these self-abusive behaviors despite the pain caused by the addiction WHAT the survivor needs to do to aid recovery WHERE the survivor can turn to obtain the help that is needed to recover from addictive or compulsive behaviors With its complete bibliography and up-to-date information on sexual abuse, addictions, and compulsive behaviors, Recovering from Sexual Abuse, Addictions, and Compulsive Behaviors will show you the full course of sexual abuse and its aftermath, bringing you from the beginnings of sexual abuse through the steps that lead to addiction and compulsion, and ultimately, recovery.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xi
Bob Davis
Preface	xiii
Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction	1	(6)
PART I: THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDICTIVE AND COMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS
The Need for Anesthesia	7	(4)
The Nature of Addiction, Compulsion, and the Trance State: An Addict's Limited Range of Dysfunctional Choices	11	(42)
Family-of-Origin Issues: How the Stage Is Set for Addictions and Compulsions	53	(20)
Feeling ``Less Than''	73	(16)
Life Through Gray-Colored Lenses	89	(14)
Fear As a Catalyst for Addictive Behaviors	103	(16)
Violence As an Outgrowth of Shame, Fear, and Depression	119	(32)
Drugs and Alcohol As Anesthesia	151	(36)
Weight Issues, Eating Disorders, and Disturbed Body Image As Anesthesia	187	(14)
Codependency As an Addiction	201	(32)
Sexual Addiction and Sexual Codependency	233	(22)
Religious Addiction versus Spirituality	255	(8)
Assorted Addictions and Compulsions Commonly Seen in Survivors	263	(14)
Switching Addictions	277	(8)
PART II: THE RECOVERY PROCESS
Establishing Healthy Boundaries	285	(10)
Addictions As a Spiritual Issue	295	(6)
Using the Twelve Steps for Healing from Sexual Abuse, Addictions, and Compulsive Behaviors	301	(40)
Appendix: Letters from the Survivors' Groups	341	(4)
Support Groups and Resources	345	(2)
Bibliography	347	(8)
Index	355