Symptoms of Childhood Sexual Abuse: 25 Signs

Sexual abuse in childhood is a worrying issue due to its prevalence in society and the consequences that this implies both in the short and long term for the person who suffers it. In this Psychology-Online article we will address the issue of the symptoms, characteristics and consequences of child sexual abuse In order to focus on the detection of cases early and know the magnitude of the consequences of this.

Index

1. Symptoms of sexual abuse in babies
2. Characteristics of having suffered sexual abuse
3. How do you know if you have been abused?
4. Consequences of sexual abuse in childhood

It must be taken into account that in the vast majority of cases, sexual abuse occurs between members of the family itself. In fact, some parents often overlook signs of abuse because they don't want to see or believe what is happening. In the case of babies, since we cannot communicate with him, we must stop to observe him and above all, be constant when taking them to the pediatrician as he will see if there are any injuries or bleeding internal.

Some of the symptoms that we can detect in observation are:

• Defensive behavior that before did not show before the diaper change. Such as: clenching legs, fists or arching the head back).
• Suck many objects and present groans.
• Once again great, play games with toys representing sex scenes.
• Touching the genitals compulsively, not normal.
• Babies who come much closer to a strange figure than attachment figures.

This type of behavior tends to be kept secret due to different factors: on the part of the victim, the fact of obtaining certain additional advantages, such as gifts, or the fear of not being believed, along with the fear of destroying the family or retaliation from the abuser; and on the part of the abuser, the possible breakdown of the couple and the family and social rejection accompanied by possible legal sanctions. Main indicators of having suffered sexual abuse and that can help them detect it are the following:

Physical indicators of sexual abuse

• Pain, bumps, burns or wounds in the genital or anal area.
• Swollen or red cervix or vulva.
• Semen in the mouth, genitals, or clothing.
• Ripped, stained, bloody underwear.
• Sexually transmitted diseases.
• Difficulty walking and sitting.
• Enuresis or encopresis.

Behavioral indicators of sexual abuse

• Loss of appetite
• Frequent crying, especially in relation to emotional or erotic moments.
• Fear of being alone, a family member, or men.
• Suddenly rejecting one of the parents.
• Sudden changes in behavior.
• Resistance to undressing and bathing.
• Isolation, rejection of social relationships.
• School problems.
• Regressive fantasies or behaviors (thumb sucking, for example).
• Tendency to secrecy.
• Aggression, escapes, criminal actions.
• Self-harm or suicide attempts.

Indicators in the sexual sphere

• I reject caresses, kisses, physical contact.
• Seductive behaviors (especially in girls).
• Precocious behavior or sexual knowledge inappropriate for his age.
• Exaggerated interest in the sexual behavior of adults.
• Sexual assault from a minor to another minor.
• Confusion about sexual orientation.

Often, after a traumatic event such as sexual abuse, our mind blocks the memories. It is a defense system that our body has to survive over-stressful events. However, the body has memory, and these types of issues can be forgotten or blocked in an apparent way and reactivated with minute details. If you haven't remembered anything for years, memories are likely to appear In adulthood, if that happens, it is best to go to a specialist to help you overcome it. Feelings of guilt, shame, anger and fear are normal, they will gradually disappear with effort and treatment.

The consequences of having suffered sexual abuse in childhood can be very serious, at least 80% of victims suffer negative psychological effects. The extent of the psychological impact will depend on the degree of guilt of the child by the parents, as well as the coping strategies available to the victim. There are consequences of a different nature and can be divided into:

Short term

• Physical: sleep problems, changes in eating habits, loss of toilet training.
• Behavioral: drug or alcohol use, running away from home, self-injurious or suicidal behaviors, hyperactivity, poor academic performance.
• Emotional: generalized fear, hostility and aggressiveness, guilt and shame, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and feelings of stigmatization, rejection of one's own body, distrust and resentment towards grown ups, post traumatic stress disorder.
• Sexual: early sexual knowledge or inappropriate for their age, compulsive masturbation, excessive sexual curiosity, exhibitionistic behaviors, sexual identity problems.
• Social: deficit in social skills, social withdrawal, antisocial behaviors.

Long-term

The long-term effects are less frequent and more diffuse than the initial sequelae, but can affect at least 30% of the victims. Between the sequelae in adult victims of childhood sexual abuse we find:

• Physical: general chronic pain, hypochondria and somatization disorders, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems, eating disorders (especially bulimia).
• Behavioral: suicide attempts, drug and / or alcohol use, dissociative identity disorder,
• Emotional: depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, post-pneumatic stress, personality disorders, distrust and fear, difficulty expressing or receiving feelings of tenderness and intimacy.
• Sexual: sexual phobias or aversions, lack of sexual satisfaction, orgasm and sexual arousal disorders, belief of being valued by others solely for sex.
• Social: problems in interpersonal relationships, isolation, difficulties in raising children.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Symptoms of sexual abuse in childhood, we recommend that you enter our category of Emotional and behavioral disorders.

• Echeburúa, E. & de Corral, P. (2006). Emotional sequelae in victims of childhood sexual abuse. Quad Med. Forensic, 12(43-44), 75-82.
• Madroñal, M. How to know if I was abused in childhood. Mothers Today. Recovered from: https://madreshoy.com/como-saber-si-abusaron-de-mi-en-la-infancia/
• Moreno, F. Protocol for Recognizing Babies Who Have Been Sexually Abused. The Synthesis. Recovered from: https://www.lasintesis.com.ar/nota-protocolo-para-reconocer-bebes-que-fueron-abusados-sexualmente-88067