UNDERSTANDING ABUSERS
Children Cannot Be Held Responsible For Their Own Safety
Childhood should be about so many amazing things. Sure there will be trials and tribulations that they will work through, but sexual abuse should not be one of them.
It is our responsibility to educate ourselves to better identify possible abuse. Often the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse are also associated with other issues that may affect a child during different phases of life.
The important thing is to not rule out sexual abuse when we notice a change in behavior, and to not be afraid to ask, even if everything seems fine.
Physical Signs
There are usually no physical signs of sexual abuse that are visible to those other than the victim. Often physical signs would only be noticed on the youngest victims – infants.
However, you or your doctor may notice or a child may complain of:
Physical Signs For Older Children
If the sexual abuse is causing anxiety for the victim, they may begin to complain of headaches, stomach aches. These symptoms are often over-looked and a child may be thought to be faking or pretending, or it may just be considered a chronic ailment.
Behavioral/Emotional
Changes in Behavior
Sections on this page have been adapted from TheMamaBearEffect.
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