Much has been written and studied on the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse. There are few absolute truths in psychology, and sexually abused victims are no exception. What does seem to hold constant is that the severity and duration of time one is abused, increases the frequency and severity of symptoms.
In my experience, parents need to be aware, not naive, however, at the same time use appropriate judgement. There are many false accusations and knee jerk reactions when in reality the child is demonstrating curious behavior that falls within the norm. Frequently parents over react when there has been no abuse at all, this is understandable given the love and nurturance in a parent child relationship. When in doubt, always consult a professional in the field before interrogating your child. The degree behind the professionals name is many times irrelevant. Experience directly related to the topic is of the utmost importance.
We do know the more symptoms observed, the higher the index of suspicion for abuse. Many symptoms to be aware of are, but not limited to the following: regressed behaviors, sudden drop in grades, clinging or neediness out of the ordinary, physical complaints, appetite changes, explosive angry behavior, sex play with toys, change in sleep patterns,obsessed towards cleanliness, avoiding social gatherings, animal abuse towards pets, self abuse, suicide attempts, and sudden changes in normal everyday behavior.
Please be advised in my twenty-one years of treating victims of abuse I have never seen one victim who only displays one or two symptoms. Other life traumas can initiate a similar constellation of symptoms. Any severe life trauma, marital discord, witnessing repeated physical or emotional abuse, a sudden loss of a parent, and even natural disasters, like tornado’s taking away a child’s home, or the devastation of a hurricane. Many times these go unrecognized as how severe they play a role in affecting a child’s life.
In summation parents need to be alert, however use good judgement in their assessment. Educating children, open communication,and trust with your children is a foundational building block that can never be taken away.
Treatment and empowerment of victims of abuse will be addressed in upcoming blogs.
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