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Psychological Effects Victims think that they are sick, dirty and cheap. They find it very difficult to trust others, and that causes problems in relationships - If my own parent can do those things to me, then anyone can, and will. If the abuser was someone of the opposite sex, then the victim may have a skewered perception of that sex. They will be confused about their own identity, and what they should expect of people. This can mean that a person who has been abused in their childhood will be more likely to gravitate towards partners who treat them badly, as this is what the victim is used to. When a person has been exploited sexually, they will have deep-rooted insecurity issues and suffer from low self-esteem for a long time after the abuse has ended. It gets worse when they attempt to remedy that by being promiscuous, because they think it will make them feel 'loved', and again, look for love in all the wrong people. Or, the may act on the other end of the scale - isolating themselves from society, believing that everyone is their enemy. The victim fears that other people will attempt to hurt them in the same way that the abuser did. Because people have a sense of shame and worthlessness, they will sometimes engage in self-harming activities. Inflicting pain on themselves may help to alleviate the internal pain and may also be a cry for help. Some develop eating disorders, such as anorexia. This might be to have some control in their lives (over food) or because they want to avoid growing up and having to face adult sexuality. Others might overeat perhaps for comfort or thinking they will make themselves unattractive. Taking drugs and alcohol can numb the pain caused by abuse, but leads to other problems. The effects can remain for years, but it is important to remember that it is not always incapacitating for life. If the victim can pluck up the courage to tell, a positive supportive response whether it is from family or professionals, can help to reduce the short and long-term harm caused by the abuse. As this website shows it is possible to survive and to speak out against the wrong experienced. |
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