|
submit
articles |
| Sexual Abuse 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 over-stimulation. 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 The child may become withdrawn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:
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:
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. reprinted
with permission from: |