The Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse

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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 (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry). Childhood sexual abuse is a traumatic experience affecting the lives of not only the victim, but those close to the victim as well. Many think there is only one person truly traumatized, but in fact, everyone involved is affected. The victim has to deal with their experience the rest of their lives. They may be more at risk for other mental issues as well, including depression. The family involved has to deal with its pain, often causing hardship and discord within the family. This is especially true when the perpetrator is a member of the family. The perpetrator has issues now to deal with. The main question is what is causing them to abuse? If the perpetrator is a child, they then have a longer, harder road to fulfilling treatment, but at least they have a better chance at recovery. Then even the therapists involved have to deal with their own personal issues and deal with the horrific tales of their patients. They too, need to be recognized as someone who is affected by childhood sexual abuse.

There is no definite definition on what childhood sexual abuse is. Childhood sexual abuse can involve body contact, but not always. Exposing one's genitals to children or pressuring them for sex is sexual abuse. Using a child for pornography is also sexual abuse.

Most sexual abusers know the child they abuse. They may be family friends, neighbors or babysitters. About one-third of abusers are related to the child. Most abusers are men. (National Library of Medicine). However, what if the ...

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...erapists did, in vicarious trauma. Many families and many victims find it easier to just overlook the facts, and pretend that it never happened. Child sexual abuse is not something that is easily talked about, but with more public outreach, child sexual abuse may be avoided for many children. With more openness and less fear about the subject, adults who were victims of child sexual abuse can begin to heal. With more support, child sexual abuse can be stopped in many cases. The public needs to keep in mind that there is more than one victim. When one child of society is victimized, the whole society has been molested. John Donne said it best many hundred years ago:

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent,…

because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells

tolls; it tolls for thee."

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