What is Sexual Abuse?
Child and adolescent sexual abuse includes a wide range of sexual behaviors that take place between a child and an older person. These sexual behaviors are intended to erotically arouse the older person, generally without consideration for the reactions or choices of the child and without consideration for the effects of the behavior upon the child.
Behaviors that are sexually abusive often involve bodily contact, such as in the case of sexual kissing, touching, fondling of genitals, and oral, anal or vaginal intercourse.
However, behaviors may be sexually abusive even if they don't
involve contact,
such as in the case of genital exposure ("flashing"), verbal
pressure for sex and sexual exploitation for purposes of prostitution
or pornography.
What are the symptoms of Sexual Abuse?
Listed below are some common secondary symptoms of abuse survivors.
This list is not comprehensive, nor do all abuse survivors manifest
these behaviors. However, many
of these symptoms are present in older
teens and adults who’ve experienced sex abuse:
Anger management problems
Isolation
and loneliness
Depression
Eating
disorders (anorexia, bulimia, etc.)
Body
image problems
Substance
abuse
Sexual
dysfunction or confusion
Self-mutilation
(cutting, burning, etc.)
Sleep
disorders
Hypervigilance
Anxiety
and fear
Dysfunctional
relationships
Spiritual
void or disillusionment
Performance-based
self-value
Intimacy
problems
Trust
issues
Poor
self-image
"Hope is necessary in every condition."
Samuel Johnson
1709-1784
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