Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    From $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    I Have Been Sexually Abused. Now What?
    I Have Been Sexually Abused. Now What?
    I Have Been Sexually Abused. Now What?
    Ebook102 pages56 minutes

    I Have Been Sexually Abused. Now What?

    By Jennifer Culp

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Sexual abuse of children and teens is shockingly common, not to mention under-reported and under-prosecuted. Fortunately, research and education are helping to change that. The trauma of sexual abuse may lead to further long-term symptoms such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, and substance abuse. It is known to increase suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviors. Seeking help from professionals—even years after the abuse occurs—can alleviate feelings of guilt and shame, shifting the identity of those who have been abused from victim to survivor. This useful and sensitive book debunks popular myths surrounding sexual abuse and provides resources where survivors and loved ones can turn for help. Readers will learn how to identify and confront sexual abuse; its long-term effects; and how to move forward in the aftermath.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRosen Publishing
    Release dateDec 15, 2014
    ISBN9781477779774
    I Have Been Sexually Abused. Now What?

    Related to I Have Been Sexually Abused. Now What?

    Related ebooks

    Children's Social Themes For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related categories

    Reviews for I Have Been Sexually Abused. Now What?

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      I Have Been Sexually Abused. Now What? - Jennifer Culp

      Published in 2015 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

      29 East 21st Street, New York, NY 10010

      Copyright © 2015 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

      First Edition

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer.

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Culp, Jennifer.

      I have been sexually abused. Now what?/Jennifer Culp.— First edition.

      pages cm.—(Teen life 411)

      Includes bibliographical references and index.

      ISBN 978-1-4777-7976-7 (library bound)

      1. Sexually abused teenagers—Juvenile literature. 2. Sexually abused teenagers—Rehabilitation—Juvenile literature. 3. Sexual abuse victims—Juvenile literature. I. Title.

      RJ507.S49C85 2015

      618.92’85836—dc23

      2014011044

      CONTENTS

      INTRODUCTION

      CHAPTER 1

      SEXUAL ABUSE: THE FACTS

      CHAPTER 2

      THE EFFECTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

      CHAPTER 3

      CONFRONTING SEXUAL ABUSE AND RECLAIMING CONTROL

      CHAPTER 4

      FRIENDS, FAMILY, FALLOUT

      CHAPTER 5

      MOVING FORWARD

      GLOSSARY

      FOR MORE INFORMATION

      FOR FURTHER READING

      BIBLIOGRAPHY

      INDEX

      INTRODUCTION

      Sexual abuse of children, preteens, and teenagers is shockingly common. Child sexual abuse is underreported and grossly under-prosecuted, but research and education are helping to change that. In the past, it was often thought that claims of sexual abuse were made up or that false memories of abuse were implanted in children by mental health professionals. Another widespread myth related to sexual abuse is the cycle of abuse, the notion that people who were sexually abused as children grow up to become abusers themselves. Both of these ideas are false. It is incredibly rare for young people to fabricate stories of sexual abuse; in fact, survivors are far more likely to lie and claim that they haven’t been abused when, in fact, they have. Current research shows that the cycle of abuse is a myth, too. The huge majority of abuse survivors do not grow up to perpetuate abuse themselves, and most perpetrators were not sexually abused in the past.

      If you have been sexually abused, it doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with you or that you deserved the abuse. Sexual abuse is the fault of no one but the perpetrator.

      So what’s true about sexual abuse? For starters, the vast majority of sexual abuse victims under the age of eighteen know and trust the perpetrator before being abused. Stranger danger is rare; sexual abuse is far more likely to be committed by a parent, stepparent, teacher, coach, close family friend, or even a teenager or kid who is friends with or related to the victim. Because of this and other factors, such as the way the brain reacts in response to trauma, it can be very difficult for sexual abuse survivors to come forward and disclose their abuse. Sometimes a phenomenon called dissociation occurs, where, in order to protect itself, the victim’s brain separates from her body during instances of abuse, making her feel as though she is somewhere else. This typically leaves the survivor with no memory of the abuse, until it reemerges later in life in the form of scary flashbacks or sensory memories. Sexual abuse is traumatizing and may lead to further long-term symptoms such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and alcohol or drug abuse. Sexual abuse is known to increase suicidal thoughts and self- harming behaviors.

      Sexual abuse is one of the most awful things one human being can do to another, but it doesn’t have to break you. When it comes to describing people who have been sexually abused, the term survivor is preferred over victim because that’s what you are: if you have lived through sexual abuse, you have survived something terrible and you are still standing. If you have been sexually abused, someone has done something awful to hurt you, but it does not mean that you are broken. It doesn’t mean that you deserve bad things or that it was your fault (being sexually abused is never your fault). It doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with you, and it doesn’t mean that you are doomed to a dark, dysfunctional life. Like countless others who have gone before you, you can seek help, and you can heal from the pain and hurt someone else inflicted on you.

      CHAPTER 1

      SEXUAL ABUSE: THE FACTS

      The term child sexual abuse encompasses any action perpetrated on a minor with the intent of arousing the perpetrator in a sexual fashion. That doesn’t mean that this kind of abuse happens only to very young children. The inclusion of the word child merely distinguishes the fact that the abuse happened to someone under the age of eighteen.

      Sexual abuse can happen to infants, very small children, preteens, and teenagers. It may take different

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1