Child Abuse: Sex Offenders Leave a Legacy of Torment

Child abuse victims, more particularly those abused by sex offenders, can suffer from a multitude of long term mental health and medical problems; some will be short-term issues, while others may affect them for the rest of their lives. In the immediate period after the abuse, children might have sleep problems, they may wet their beds, and they may develop aggressive or disruptive behaviors, therefore, it is vital that as parents we learn to recognize that these changes may be possible manifestations of abuse.

Aside from the general anxiety associated with sex offenses, children, as well as adults who have been raped, can be affected by various eating disorders, depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Teens may become promiscuous, and as adults, victims of sex offenses often have trouble developing intimate and long term relationships. It is also possible for a victim to have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and not realize. PTSD can develop months after exposure to trauma, and quite often the victim will not associate the disorder with the attack. As well as women and children, men can also be victims of rape.

More often than we realize, men also become rape statistics, often at the hands of women. These days "rape laws are now also applied to men who rape men and to women who coerce men into sexual activity or assist men in raping other women"(Rathus, Nevid & Fichner-Rathus, 2005, p.606) The highest incidence of male sex offense against other males, take place among those who are serving time in prison. On the outside of prison walls in 2001 alone, almost 7,000 men reported that they had been raped (Rathus, Nevid & Fichner-Rathus, 2005).

In addition to depression and anxiety, young men may also find themselves in the position of the abuser having been abused themselves as children. This may be one of the most tragic consequences of all, and breaking the cycle of sexual abuse can be difficult. The problem of women becoming sex offenders is also troubling, although the incidence of women sexual abusers is not as high as for men.

Some children are molested for years before anyone knows about it; the offender is often someone known to the family. The offender can also be a family member such as a parent or step parent, a relative the child has a trusting relationship with, or even a neighbor. By teaching children about appropriate and inappropriate touching, we stand a better chance of having the child come to us to report the incident. When the child feels comfortable enough to tell a parent or teacher, it also becomes possible to get psychological and medical help for the child sooner, rather than later. The sooner this process can begin, the better chance the child has of a full recovery, and the risk of long-term problems can be reduced.

The long-terms effects of rape and child sexual molestation can be dealt with effectively, and successfully if we are aware of the warning signs. Once an attack has taken place, a co-worker, for example, may become withdrawn and be frequently tardy or absent from work. He or she may prefer not to socialize, and may become startled at the slightest unexpected sound. They may also begin to drink heavily, in an attempt to self-medicate. Similarly, teenagers often show their distress by becoming sexually active at a very young age, or their school work may suffer due to their inability to concentrate or comprehend. All too often, these childhood behaviors are dismissed as behavioral or disruptive disorders, when in fact, the truth may be so much more sinister.

If anything seems to be out of the norm for a particular person, it is possible that the individual may have been traumatized by physical abuse, and possibly a sexual abuser. People must be made aware of resources they can turn to when they need support. All too often, the family is the last to find out. For anyone who is sexually abused, a medical checkup will be necessary to eliminate the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases, and psychological counseling will help for depression, anxiety, and the guilt which most sexual abuse victims are faced with.

Reference

Rathus, S.A., Nevid, J.S., and Fichner-Rathus, L. (2005). Human sexuality in a world of diversity. (6th ed.) Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.