| I just hate myself. I keep thinking | | | | and one in five boys are sexually abused |
| theres something I should have done, | | | | by an adult at some time during their |
| should of said to stop it. I just feel | | | | childhood. Most sexual abusers are |
| so dirty. Lisa. Childhood sexual abuse | | | | someone in the family or someone the |
| isan overwhelming, damaging, and | | | | child knows. Child abuse is far more |
| humiliating assault on a childs mind, | | | | likely to occur in the childs home than |
| soul, and bodyThe abuse invades every | | | | in a day care center. |
| facet of ones existence, says the Right | | | | Often the severe emotional damage to |
| to Innocence, by Beverly Engel. | | | | abused children does not surface until |
| During the early years when a child | | | | adolescence or later, when many abused |
| develops personal worth and learns to | | | | children become abusing parents. An |
| love and trust, this process of trust | | | | adult who was abused as a child often |
| building gets derailed, says Dr.J.P. | | | | has trouble establishing intimate |
| Gannon. The abuser robs the child of any | | | | personal relationships. These men and |
| safety, privacy and self-respect. This | | | | women may have trouble with physical |
| may lead to depression, low self-esteem, | | | | closeness, touching, intimacy, and trust |
| guilt, and rage. Many will turn their | | | | as adults. They are also at higher risk |
| destructive feelings on their | | | | for anxiety, depression, substance |
| friendships, marriages, and on their own | | | | abuse, medical illness, and problems at |
| self. | | | | school or work. Without proper |
| Statistics are alarming! In one area 84% | | | | treatment, physically abused children |
| of prison inmates were found to be | | | | can be damaged for life. |
| abused as children. One in three girls | | | | |