Paper presented at the Fifth International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect, Montreal. Google Scholar Kovitz, K. Barr, D., Brummitt, J., Handy, L. C., Leveque, P., Plowman, B., & Riese, R. (1982). [link.springer.com]

“It’s clear to me that the present guidelines are failing victims,” she said. [theguardian.com]

Oprah Winfrey Rex Features In November 1986 Oprah Winfrey stunned the audience of a live show she was presenting about child sexual abuse by revealing that she too was a survivor, having been raped by a 19-year-old relative when she was just 9 years old [lifedeathprizes.com]

Adults with a history of sexual abuse often present for treatment with a secondary mental health issue, which can include the following: Depression or feeling ‘low’ Post Traumatic Stress Low self esteem Eating disorders Drug addiction Alcohol use / dependency [survivorsintransition.co.uk]

[…] attention Turning to a child for emotional or physical comfort by sharing personal or private information or activities that are normally shared with adults Frequently pointing out sexual images or telling inappropriate or suggestive jokes with children present [nsopw.gov]

• Disability

  […] advocacy Guidance through the criminal justice system Safety planning Community resource referrals Support for loved ones Educational and prevention programs Our advocates provide support to all survivors, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, or disability [familiesfirstindiana.org]

  Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker [livre.fnac.com]

  We have staff trained to work specifically with victims/survivors with disabilities, senior crime victims, male survivors, college-age survivors, as well as adolescents. [sphp.com]

  It serves individuals who have had their lives impacted by sexual assault, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, disability, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, income, veteran status, marital status or any other basis [sexualassaultcenter.com]

• Fear

  Further, the fear of being “outed” keeps many survivors silent about what happened to them and who did it, which means offenders go unreported. [pcar.org]

  You want to calm any sense of urgency or emergency and not escalate the fear or anxiety. Give the child safety information, but avoid causing her/him to be more fearful of people than she/he already is. [centerforpreventionofabuse.org]

  Feelings of anger, fear, shock, denial, and confusion are normal. Often pain doesn't simply go away, it has to find a safe outlet. [aftersilence.org]

  Survivors may fear revealing their gender identity or sexual orientation to others. They may not trust the legal system to protect them. Survivors could also fear inciting further violence. [goodtherapy.org]

  Judgment, victim shaming/blaming, loss of job/$, fear of violence, retaliation.” [ew.com]

• Anger

  ” ― George Orwell, 1984 “YOUR ABUSIVE PARTNER DOESN’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HIS ANGER; HE HAS A PROBLEM WITH YOUR ANGER. One of the basic human rights he takes away from you is the right to be angry with him. [goodreads.com]

  […] are and not taking it personally if anger or frustration is directed at you. [supportline.org.uk]

  Feelings of anger, fear, shock, denial, and confusion are normal. Often pain doesn't simply go away, it has to find a safe outlet. [aftersilence.org]

  Los Angeles psychotherapist helps with depression, anxiety, panic, stress, anger, sexual problems, sex therapy, communication problems, marriage / relationship difficulties, co-dependency, and adults emotionally, physically or sexually abused as children [psychotherapist.net]

  Anger. Not surprisingly this is one of the strongest feelings which you may feel about your abuse. You may feel anger against the abuser and also against others who you feel failed to protect you. Sadness. [survivorsintransition.co.uk]

• Low Self-Esteem

  Self-esteem. You may struggle with low self-esteem, which can be a result of the negative messages you received from your abuser(s), and from having your personal safety violated or ignored. [rainn.org]

  […] back pain, chest pressure Erection problems or ejaculatory difficulty Asthma Dizziness/fainting Self harming/self-mutilation Chronic physical complaints Major Long-Term Psychological Symptoms of Sexual Abuse Anxiety Panic Attacks Low self-esteem Stress [psychotherapist.net]

  A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can become suicidal ( page 1 ). [victimsofcrime.org]

  Treatment for adult survivors may help you: Overcome troubling thoughts and feelings, like self-blame, guilt or low self-esteem Overcome unhelpful coping strategies, like self-harm or eating problems Build healthy skills, like building trust and setting [heretohelp.bc.ca]

  People-pleasing and rescuing Insomnia Excessive need to control Obsessive, compulsive behavior patterns Needy Low self-esteem Suicidal Weak boundaries Unhealthy choices in members of the opposite sex Neurotic tendencies Addictions: drugs, alcohol, sex [thelamplighters.org]

• Frigidity

  “I’m so frigid,” she wrote. She wouldn’t have a normal sex life until her early 40s. In college, she’d cry nearly every day and wake up with nightmares and flashbacks. [theatlantic.com]

• Inappropriate Sexual Behavior

  Major Sexual Symptoms of Sexual Abuse Difficulty with becoming aroused and feeling sensations Sex feels like an obligation Sexual thoughts and images that are disturbing Inappropriate sexual behaviors or sexual compulsivity Vaginal pain Inability to achieve [psychotherapist.net]

• Insomnia

  Significant differences in effects on men and women were also observed, with impacts on loneliness feelings and insomnia greater for the first group and greater on the number of friends for the second. [Indexed for MEDLINE] Free full text [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Patients who have suffered for years from anxiety or distressing memories, nightmares, insomnia from sexual abuse or other traumatic events can now gain relief from a revolutionary new therapy called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing). [psychotherapist.net]

  Longer-term effects may be wide-ranging, to include anxiety-related, self-destructive behaviors such as alcoholism or drug abuse, anxiety attacks, and insomnia (p.4). [victimsofcrime.org]

  People-pleasing and rescuing Insomnia Excessive need to control Obsessive, compulsive behavior patterns Needy Low self-esteem Suicidal Weak boundaries Unhealthy choices in members of the opposite sex Neurotic tendencies Addictions: drugs, alcohol, sex [thelamplighters.org]

• Irritability

  […] the emotional toll sexual abuse and assault can have on a victim, a large portion of abuse instances also result in physical symptoms and illness, including, but not limited to: Chronic pelvic pain Premenstrual syndrome Gastrointestinal disorders (ex: irritable [pricebenowitz.com]

  You might: feel ashamed or even guilty about what happened feel depressed or suicidal have flashbacks have difficulty focusing or sleeping feel numb and in shock be tearful, angry or irritable. [victimsupport.org.uk]

• Night Terrors

  I held his hand as his night terrors, hyper-vigilance and claustrophobia began to make sense. When Trav’s enlistment was up, we moved back home to Maine. “But you’re eight years in,” people accused. “Why don’t you just stay?” [theatlantic.com]

• Stroke

  […] emergency and medical care services Adults with a history of child sexual abuse are more likely than the general population to experience physical health problems including diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, arthritis, headaches, gynaecological problems, stroke [survivorsintransition.co.uk]

• Sexual Dysfunction

  Some survivors experience sexual dysfunction and fertility issues. Others may develop sexually transmitted infections. Contrary to myth, it is possible for a sexual assault to result in pregnancy. [goodtherapy.org]

A comprehensive child sexual abuse treatment programs. Child Abuse and Neglect, 6, 263–278). Google Scholar Gomes-Schwartz, B., Horowitz, J., & Sauzier, M. (1985). [link.springer.com]

Treatment in these cases can also be much longer and more challenging than that for people who were victimized later in life. [broadly.vice.com]

People who have unexamined childhood trauma often fail when they attempt weight-loss treatments. Some studies show that patients with histories of abuse tend to lose less weight after bariatric surgery or during clinical weight-loss treatment. [theatlantic.com]

Get medical treatment if you are sexually assaulted or hurt If you are injured after an attack or sexually assaulted, go to the doctor and get medical treatment as soon as possible. [soundvision.com]

Early trauma "prevents the normal course of development from taking place," Margolin-Rice says, explaining that abuse can delay or prevent "normal" mental and emotional development. [broadly.vice.com]

MaleSurvivor is committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment, research, education, advocacy, and activism. [pcar.org]

The two key components in recovering from sexual abuse are: Dealing with the effects of sexual abuse Preventing further abuse Depending on the situation, an abuse survivor may be focused more on one, the other, or both. [healthyplace.com]

An offender will often threaten or manipulate the child to prevent them from disclosing the abuse. [goodtherapy.org]