Why did my body react with pleasure even during abuse?
Confusing Pleasure- Ask Liza Express Answers
This is one of the most painful internal conflicts survivors face. The body’s reaction is biology, not consent. The body is wired to respond to touch, even in contexts that feel unsafe or unwanted. Abuse can trigger arousal reflexes—especially in childhood—due to nerve endings being stimulated. It is not a moral or emotional response; it’s a physiological reflex.
What makes this confusing is that survivors often interpret this reaction as participation or guilt. But what you experienced was the body doing what bodies do, even in situations it never should have been placed in. Abusers often exploit this natural response, deepening shame.
Here’s the business grade truth: arousal during abuse does not mean desire, agreement, or enjoyment. It means your biology was hijacked. And when biology and violation collide, shame grows in the cracks.
Reframing this is key: your body didn’t betray you; the abuser did. Healing involves separating physical reaction from emotional meaning. When you understand this separation clearly, you reclaim the narrative and dissolve one of the deepest lies trauma leaves behind.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
