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