| Child
sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000
times a year, but the number of unreported instances
is far greater, because the children are afraid
to tell anyone what has happened, and the legal
procedure for validating an episode is difficult.
The problem should be identified, the abuse
stopped, and the child should receive professional
help. The long-term emotional and psychological
damage of sexual abuse can be devastating to
the child.
Child sexual abuse can take
place within the family, by a parent, step-parent,
sibling or other relative; or outside the home,
for example, by a friend, neighbor, child care
person, teacher, or stranger. When sexual abuse
has occurred, a child can develop a variety
of distressing feelings, thoughts and behaviors.
No child is psychologically
prepared to cope with repeated sexual stimulation.
Even a two or three year old, who cannot know
the sexual activity is wrong, will develop problems
resulting from the inability to cope with the
overstimulation.
The child of five or older who
knows and cares for the abuser becomes trapped
between affection or loyalty for the person,
and the sense that the sexual activities are
terribly wrong. If the child tries to break
away from the sexual relationship, the abuser
may threaten the child with violence or loss
of love. When sexual abuse occurs within the
family, the child may fear the anger, jealousy
or shame of other family members, or be afraid
the family will break up if the secret is told.
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may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults,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.
Some children who have been
sexually abused have difficulty relating to
others except on sexual terms. Some sexually
abused children become child abusers or prostitutes,
or have other serious problems when they reach
adulthood.
Often there are no obvious physical
signs of child sexual abuse. Some signs can
only be detected on physical exam by a physician.
Sexually abused children may
develop the following:
- unusual interest in or
avoidance of all things of a sexual nature
- sleep problems or nightmares
- depression or withdrawal
from friends or family
- seductiveness
- statements that their bodies
are dirty or damaged, or fear that there
is something wrong with them in the genital
area
- refusal to go to school
- delinquency/conduct problems
- secretiveness
- aspects of sexual molestation
in drawings, games, fantasies
- unusual aggressiveness,
or
- suicidal behavior
Child sexual abusers can make
the child extremely fearful of telling, and
only when a special effort has helped the child
to feel safe, can the child talk freely. If
a child says that he or she has been molested,
parents should try to remain calm and reassure
the child that what happened was not their fault.
Parents should seek a medical examination and
psychiatric consultation.
Parents can prevent or lessen
the chance of sexual abuse by:
- Telling children that if
someone tries to touch your body and do
things that make you feel funny, say NO
to that person and tell me right away
- Teaching children that
respect does not mean blind obedience to
adults and to authority, for example, don't
tell children to, Always do everything the
teacher or baby-sitter tells you to do
- Encouraging professional
prevention programs in the local school
system
Sexually abused children and
their families need immediate professional evaluation
and treatment. Child and adolescent psychiatrists
can help abused children regain a sense of self-esteem,
cope with feelings of guilt about the abuse,
and begin the process of overcoming the trauma.
Such treatment can help reduce the risk that
the child will develop serious problems as an
adult.
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