| How Does Abuse And Trauma Effect People? |
| Touching Me Again See that man over there? He used to touch me, Do things he shouldn't do, I didn't even know what they were. I wonder if he realised, That I would grow up to be afraid. Afraid of men, women, children, everything. Can't stand to be touched, Hugged, Even though I want that, more than anything. The touch of someone, The feeling of my skin being touched, Sends chills down my spine. Will I always be like this? Will I always cower, Rather that face being touched? Can't someone just touch me, Hug me, In a 'normal' way. Not sexual, not abusive, Something which doesn't make me feel sick. Just caring, warm, comforting. Someone's arms around me, Holding me, Feeling safe, Not being scared, That he will touch me again. 4th Of November 2000 |
 |
| Child abuse can have devastating consequences on its victims. How deeply the experience of abuse affects people can depend on a variety of factors. The factors I will describe are in relation to sexual abuse. However I feel some of them can be applied to all other kinds of abuse if you change the wording slightly, by putting physical or emotional there instead of sexual. |
| Duration and frequency of the abuse The longer and more frequently the sexual abuse occurs, the more serious the later emotional and sexual consequences. Type of sexual activity Sexual abuse which involves penetration is most damaging. Use of force and aggression The great the use of physical force or violence, the greater the consequences. Age at onset Some sexual abuse professionals believe the younger the child is when the sexual abuse occurs, the more damaging it is. Others believe that younger children are more emotionally insulated and that the most damage occurs in older abused children. Age, gender and relationship to abuser The closer the relationship of the victim and the abuser, and the greater the span of years that separate them, the greater the harm. Passive submission or willing participation by the child The child who willingly submits to the abuse and who actively participates in it suffers more negative consequences. Direct or indirect telling with no support When a child tells and isn't helped, the consequences are more severe and long lasting than when the child keeps the abuse a secret. Parental reaction Children may suffer further trauma by parents who react negatively to the truth by blaming the child or denying or minimizing the abuse. Institutional response Negative of ineffective response by social service agencies to the child's sexual abuse serve to compound the negative effects of the abuse. |
| These symptoms, or after effects of abuse are experienced to varying degrees and combinations in abuse survivors. Some may experience a few while others may live with them in a lingering way. Please note that some effects are particular to particular kinds of abuse. Emotionally, abuse survivors may experience: Guilt/shame Fear/anxiety self-blame/dissatisfaction Powerlessness/helplessness Inability to say no to others in relationships Difficulty nurturing self Lack of trust of own perceptions and feelings Emotional shut down or 'numbing' Inability to see the positive aspects of oneself Perfectionism 'Splitting' mind from body Control at all costs Feeling invisible Problems giving or receiving affection Difficulty relying on others |
| Please go to page two for the physical, behavioural, sexual and the relationship difficulties caused by abuse. |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|