Understanding Various Forms of Sexual Abuse

Wikipedia defines Paraphila as: "a biomedical term used to describe sexual arousal to objects, situations or individuals that are not part of normative stimulation that may cause distress or serious problems for the paraphiliac or persons associated with him or her."

As a survivor of incest and childhood sexual abuse, I have personally been exposed to several of these deviant sexual behaviors. As a young child, I was unable to defend myself or even to describe what was happening to me. As the years passed, and I began to describe to my mother what was being done to me by my own father, I soon learned that there was no one who was willing to help me or to rescue me from the abuse that I endured for many years.

This article describes some of the more common paraphilias that are seen in our society today.

Pedophilia

This sexual behavior is one of the most distressing of all the deviant sexual behaviors simply because it is a sexual act committed against innocent children. My father was a pedophile, sexually abusing me and many other young children throughout his lifetime. The damages to children who are violated in this manner are profound.

Voyeurism

Voyeurism is described as achieving sexual arousal or gratification by secretly viewing another person in private activities such as bathing or undressing. My own father used to sneak outside and peek through either the bedroom or bathroom window to catch a glimpse of me in various stages of undress or nakedness. This is an especially violating act to any young girl who is already experiencing apprehensions about the changes in her body during the teenage years.

Frotteurism

This behavior is described as achieving sexual gratification by touching or rubbing against a non-consenting person. This could be an act committed against either an adult or a child. Frotteurism is humiliating and degrading.

Exhibitionism

This sexual behavior involves exposing one's genitals to strangers. Again, sexual gratification is the goal of this type of exposure.

Other types of behaviors that also fit this category of Paraphilias are fetishism, masochism, sadism and transvestism, commonly known as cross-dressing. Another category is Paraphilia (Not Otherwise Specified) which includes behaviors that do not fall under other diagnoses, such as those who make obscene telephone calls for their own sexual gratification.

Needless to say, any type of sexual violation which is experienced either in adulthood or childhood causes major damages in the lives of its victims. If you or someone you know has experienced any form of sexual violation, please seek help.

I would also like to say to anyone who has been diagnosed as a paraphiliac, there is also help and healing available to you. You do not need to live your entire life in this kind of bondage. Please seek help for your dysfunction.

Sources:

http://.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_paraphilias
http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/paraphilias

Personal Experience