There are a variety of ways that unwanted or abusive sexual experiences can cause problems. We can't cover all of them here, but will touch on some major ones.
Such experiences almost always involve a betrayal of trust by someone who has power over the child or teenager. The violation of trust is even greater when the other person had responsibitity for the child's care and protection. Therefore, anyone who has experienced such betrayal as a child is likely to have difficulty trusting others.
Unwanted or abusive sexual experiences typically cause, when they happen and/or soon afterward, intense negative emotions. Those emotions include fear, anger, sadness, and shame. Such feelings may not go away, and may get worse, if the child has no one safe to tell what happened or help him deal with his feelings. In some cases, children try to get help but are blamed for what happened, told they are lying, or worse – which add yet another layer of painful and overwhelming emotions.
Understandable
consequences of
what happened
– and very good
reasons for hope |
In response to these extreme negative emotions, children and teenagers often attempt to ignore and "block them out." This usually leaves them alternating between being emotionally "numb" and feeling overwhelmed and out of control.
In short, when it comes to emotional experiences and behaviors, unwanted and abusive sexual experiences can cause major problems with negative emotions and "emotion regulation."
Such problems with trust and negative emotions can lead to lots of relationship problems. Especially in intimate relationships but also in friendships and work relationships, problems with trust and overwhelming emotions can lead to outbursts, conflicts, hurt feelings and sudden endings. For those who hide their negative emotions and pretend everything is OK, there can be major stress, inner turmoil, and a constant feeling of disconnection and being "unreal."
Not surprisingly, unwanted or abusive sexual experiences can lead to sexual problems including fear of sexual intimacy, difficulties "performing" sexually, and sudden feelings shame and guilt – even when an intimate relationship or sexual interaction is otherwise going well.
The last major issue we'll raise here: Unwanted or abusive sexual experiences themselves, and their emotional aftermath, are completely the opposite of how males are supposed to be. Males are supposed to be strong and in control, not manipulated or controlled by others; they are supposed to be sexually dominant, not sexually dominated; and masters of their emotions, not overwhelmed by feelings like fear and shame.
It's totally normal, then, for men who've had such experiences to worry about being "real men." To fear others will see them as "unmanly." Etc. When such a sexual experience involved another male, these concerns can be huge, and there can be fears of "being gay." Or if one is gay or bisexual, to fears that it's because of the childhood sexual experiences. For more on these issues, see Masculinity, Self-Esteem & Identity.
Some final thoughts: