How to Fix a Lack of Social Skills in a Recovering Victim of Abuse

Long after physical or emotional abuse has ended, victims suffer the consequences of surviving a trauma. Survivors of domestic, sexual or child abuse may carry emotional scars that impact their work, relationships and everyday activities. Some recovering victims of abuse exhibit signs of post traumatic stress disorder that include anxiety and inhibited social skills. Individual talk therapy, group therapy and medication can all help address a victim's lack of social skills.

Instructions

• 1

  Seek a psychologist, psychiatrist or other mental health professional who specializes in helping victims of abuse. Survivors often have problems with intimacy and low self-esteem. They may feel alone and alienated and often exhibit anger, depression or phobias that may make social interaction with others uncomfortable or nearly impossible. Children who suffer abuse may display clingy or aggressive behaviors that interfere with friendships. One-on-one talk therapy can help empower the survivor and heal the trauma caused by abuse.

• 2

  Join a therapy group. Victims of abuse may lose trust in others, making them unwilling to interact or form relationships. By providing a safe place to talk with other victims of abuse, group therapy can help survivors feel less alone, accept what has happened and learn how to move forward. A group setting offers an opportunity to practice social skills, such as self-expression and conflict resolution, with the help of a facilitator.

• 3

  Investigate the possibility of taking medication to reduce anxiety. Drugs such as sertraline and paroxetine are used to treat victims of abuse who may have post traumatic stress syndrome, according to the National Institutes of Health. If talk therapy is unsuccessful, some victims find that medication may be an effective treatment in easing anxiety, making social interactions less challenging.