What Is Sexual Abuse?
Sexual abuse represents any kind of sexual contact between an adult or older teen and a child. This behavior is used to gain power over the child and often involves a betrayal of the child's trust.
There are many types of sexual abuse; some include physical contact or touching offenses. This includes fondling, touching sexual organs bestiality, masturbation, lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person, flagellation or torture by or upon a person who is nude, making the child touch the adult sexually, and vaginal or anal penetration with self or objects. Non touching offenses include exposing a child to pornographic material, indecent exposure, leering and deliberately putting the child in the position of having to witness an act of sexual intercourse.
How Common Is Child Sexual Abuse?
It has been shown that 3-7% of boys are sexually abused by the time they reach eighteen and 2-5% of girls, on the whole two out of ten children are victims of abuse. These averages are of course conservative since most occurrences are never reported.
Was I Sexually Abused?
Pay attention to your feelings and follow your gut. A lot of victims of sexual abuse tend to block out memories they have of the incident only to be triggered by painful reminders: specific sounds, smells, words and facial expressions. If you suspect that you were sexually abused, you probably were. Trust you feelings and memories.
What Are The Affects Of Sexual Abuse?
Being in your body
* Do you feel at home in your body?
* Do you feel comfortable expressing yourself sexually with another?
* Do you feel that you are a part of your body or does your body feel like a separate entity?
* Have you ever intentionally and physically hurt yourself?
Emotions
* Do you feel out of control of your feelings?
* Do you feel you sometimes don't understand all the feelings you are experiencing?
* Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of feelings you have?
Relationships
* What are your expectations of your partner in a relationship?
* Do you find it easy to trust others?
* Do you find difficulty in making commitments?
* Even though you're in a relationship, are you still lonely?
* Is it hard for you to allow others to get close to you?
* Do you find yourself in relationships with people who remind you of your abuser,
or you know is no good for you?
Self-Confidence
* Do you find it difficult to love yourself?
* Do you have a hard time accepting yourself?
* Are you ashamed of yourself?
* Do you have expectations of yourself that aren't realistic?
What Problems are caused by Sexual Abuse?
Major Long-Term Medical Symptoms of Sexual Abuse
1. Insomnia
2. Vaginal or Pelvic Pain
3. Eating Disorders
4. Headaches
5. TMJ syndrome
6. Low back pain, chest pressure
7. Asthma
8. Dizziness/fainting
9. Self harming/self-mutilation
10. Chronic physical complaints
Major Long-Term Psychological Symptoms of Sexual Abuse
1. Anxiety
2. Panic Attacks
3. Low self-esteem
4. Stress disorders - PTSD
5. Personality disorders
6. Substance abuse
7. Self-abuse behaviors
8. Co-dependency
Why Do I Have To Deal With It Now, If It Happened Back Then?
There are many reasons why children do not deal with the abuse at the time of the incident: unconscious feelings of shame, disbelief, and self blame. Abusers may also threaten or bribe children into not speaking up, convincing the child that it is indeed their fault, and that they will never be believed otherwise. These tactics are used to silence the child. Under no circumstances, is the child to blame for the abuse. Although, if the abuse is not dealt with in a therapeutic and healing setting, the effects of past abuse will remain and undermine the victim for years to come.
Does It Get Better?
The worst part, the abuse, is over. Now your next step is to surround yourself with supportive loving people, and focus on the desire you have to heal yourself. This is your healing process. You must be gentle and patient with yourself as your healing process gently unfolds. You are giving yourself the gift of coming to life, again.
Now What?
You are not alone, and in fact, in recognizing what has happened to you and speaking about your experience is one of the most vital components in the healing process. You have already taken a giant step. If you think that you have been a victim of sexual abuse, you need to take action immediately so your life will not be undermined by the past one day more. Build yourself a support team! Get HELP!
Southern Crescent Sexual Assault Center 770-603-4045
24 Hr. Crisis Line
770-477-2177
Henry Co. Office 770-507-7772
Debbie Lillard, ACSW, LCSW
404-286-1177
GNESA
Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault 404-815-5261
1-866-354-3672 (toll free)
404-815-5265 (fax)
gnesa@mindspring.com
Linda D. Wheatley, LMSW
404-669-3462
Rachel Markham, M.S. Therapist
770-957-6256
Odyssey Family Counseling Center 404-669-3462
McDonough 770-957-6256
Bill Lane, E.d.s, L.P.C., M.A.C.
404-669-3462
Kathy Steele, MN, CS
404-321-4954 ext. 5
Promise Place 770-460-1604
Crisis Line 770-929-7529
Securus House 770-961-7233
Griffin Sexual Assault Center
Wendy S. Wilmoth,
Program Director
Office: 770-229-3116 Ext. 22
Hotline: 770-636-0088
Ga. Council on Child Abuse
1-800-532-3208
Ga. Commission on Family Violence 404-657-3412
Cathy Duke, LPC 770-898-7412
Metropolitan Counsling
404-321-1794
RAINN 24 Hr. Hotline
1-800-656-Hope( 4673)
National Hope Line (suicide hotline) 1-800-784-2433
Legal Help:
Atlanta Legal Aid Society
404-377-0701
Family Law Information
404-335-2789
Marie Waldrep
Marie Waldrep
Marie Waldrep
