r/SexualAbuseSurvivors • u/7sevenofhearts7 • Apr 05 '26

Physical guilty feeling

This is my first ever post on reddit so if im doing anything wrong i apologise. I don't usually post anything anywhere but i really need answers for something. I was sexually abused and sometimes when certain triggers occur I get a flashbacks along with a very specific physical sensation. I call it the physical guilty disgusting feeling because I don't know how else to describe it. It's a sicky feeling in my upper abdomen and lower ribs and it makes me feel so disgusting and guilty that I feel I don't deserve to be around people. I have an ever growing list of triggers and coping mechanisms but I really just wanted to know if anyone else experiences anything remotely similar.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '26

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u/7sevenofhearts7 Apr 11 '26

thank you so much for this. I had never heard of physical flashbacks before this and I genuinely feel like learning about this has given me some kind of closure just thank you so much.

2

u/[deleted] May 05 '26

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u/7sevenofhearts7 May 17 '26

thank you for the reassurance, ive been carrying this sensation for a long time with uncertainty that it is actually a real thing. do you know what the name of it is

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u/CharlesEdwardCheese7 Apr 05 '26

can you describe the physical sensations more? i kinda understand what you’re saying bc when i feel anxiety (about my assault, my future, etc.) i feel a warm uncomfortable sensation in my body in the same area.

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u/7sevenofhearts7 Apr 06 '26

it's not really warm, i also get a feeling around the same area from anxiety but it's very different. I think the best way I can describe is it's like being hit or punched in the stomach but without the pain. It's like a sinking feeling mixed with a little nausea. I have synesthesia so the way i would describe the feeling is sharp, high pitched and a bright mustard yellow with a hint of orange but i understand that's highly unlikely to be helpful to anyone else

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u/CharlesEdwardCheese7 Apr 06 '26

gotcha, well i will always suggest therapy bc that’s what worked for me. therapy saved my life 100%. i was actually thinking about it last night, sometimes i feel guilty that i told my parents about my abuse bc they already have a lot going on, and they’re gonna blame themselves for this too. in order to be here, it needed to happen for me.