Certainly, today's medical professionals are far more sensitive to the needs of children, but being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse leaves patients particularly vulnerable in an already frightening situation. Many people who have been sexually abused have especially strong reactions in situations where they are required to give up their control precisely because they had no control when they were being abused. Support and Self-Care Psychotherapy is the best place for survivors to address the issues of reexperiencing childhood sexual trauma when preparing for surgery. With the help of a competent therapist who understands the dissociative process and gives credence to post-traumatic stress, survivors can learn to face situations such as surgery and to manage their fears. The chance of moving into a full-fledged flashback of the original abuse during the hours before and after surgery can also be minimized.
Meditation is another tool that reduces stress and promotes an overall sense of well-being.
Meditation does not need to be associated with any particular religion, although many different religions use meditation in their religious practices. Meditation can consist of focusing on a secret mantra, on your own breath, or on an object such as a seashell. It is a gentle way of freeing the mind of anxiety. For some survivors, relaxation tapes are helpful. If the tapes are used in conjunction with therapy and are a part of the survivor's lifestyle, then the images from the tapes can be called up during those anxious hours before and after surgery.