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