adult survivor
Grew past abuse
Adult survivor refers to someone who experienced trauma, abuse, or a life-threatening situation—typically in childhood—and has reached adulthood.
The term emphasizes both the ongoing impact of past harm and the person's resilience: an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse, a support group for adult survivors of domestic violence.
It appears frequently in therapeutic and advocacy contexts.
Involuntary vivid memory episodes
- triggersCauses or activates
- nightmaresTerrifying sleep experiences
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- hypervigilanceHeightened threat sensitivity
intrusive thoughts · post-traumatic stress disorder · anxiety · emotional pain · abuse · neglect · assault · violence
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- healingRestoration of health
- support groupsGatherings for shared struggles
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
rehabilitation · integration · EMDR · inner child work · reparenting · processing · stabilization · grounding techniques
Increase in size
- transformationThorough change in form
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- reclamationRecovery of something lost
- thrivingSucceeding vigorously
post-traumatic growth · strength · agency · autonomy · boundaries · self-advocacy · overcoming · perseverance
flashbacks
Involuntary vivid memory episodes
- triggersCauses or activates
- nightmaresTerrifying sleep experiences
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
hypervigilance · intrusive thoughts · post-traumatic stress disorder · anxiety · emotional pain · abuse · neglect · assault · violence · wounded
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- healingRestoration of health
- support groupsGatherings for shared struggles
recovery · rehabilitation · integration · EMDR · inner child work · reparenting · processing · stabilization · grounding techniques · coping skills
growth
Increase in size
- transformationThorough change in form
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- reclamationRecovery of something lost
thriving · post-traumatic growth · strength · agency · autonomy · boundaries · self-advocacy · overcoming · perseverance · courage
adult survivorperpetrator
One who commits wrongdoing
abuser · victimizer · offender · predator · aggressor
adult, adults, adulthood, adulting, survive, survivor, survivors, survival, survivorship