How Do You Know if You Were Sexually Assaulted and Abused as a Child?
One in ten children will be sexually assaulted before they have reached the age of 18. This means that approximately 1 in 7 girls and 1 in 25 boys will be sexually abused. This abuse can lead to lifelong trauma that may be difficult to remember and recover from.
So, how do you know if you were sexually assaulted? We recommend that you continue reading to find out how some subtle signs may allude to past sexual abuse when you were younger.
How Do You Know If You Were Sexually Assaulted?
Sexual abuse doesn’t always happen between a child and a grownup, sometimes it can happen between a child and an older sibling, a babysitter, or a child that is the same age. Forms of sexual abuse include forceful exposure of the body and touching, someone exposing themselves to the child, being shown pornographic images, talking about sexual things, and more.
There are some signs that you may have never noticed, but these signs can point to something much more profound. These signs include:
- Loss of memory surrounding the period when the trauma took place
- Increased anxiety when it comes to loud noises or being surprised
- Lack of emotional control
- Not understanding why specific sounds, smells, or surroundings cause you to become uneasy
- Feelings of shame and guilt
Why Don’t I Remember?
When a person experiences traumatic events in their lives, typically, the brain will, in a sense, lock those memories away. Some therapists believe that such traumatic events are too painful for a person to remember.
It is prevalent not to remember specific experiences and events from childhood, especially memories surrounding traumatic events such as sexual abuse. As the child grows and becomes an adult, they may experience flashbacks and find that they are uneasy and don’t understand why.
As you begin to remember past sexual abuse it’s important that you talk to a lawyer they may be able to help you get justice. For more information about the legal side of things click this link.
How Will It Affect My Adult Life?
Sexual abuse as a child can cause havoc in a child’s adult life without them understanding what is happening. Some children seek abusive relationships that mirror the abuse they endured when they were younger.
Feeling the need to stay in a relationship where you’re being emotionally, physically, or mentally abused. Another way adult life is affected is the way the adult approaches sex with others.
They may find themselves being overly promiscuous or the opposite and be repulsed by sex altogether. At times the abused may seek to please the other person involved at all times because of the sexual trauma.
The abused may have fantasies where they romanticize the act of being raped and abused as a means of pleasure.
The Wrap-Up
How do you know if you were sexually assaulted? For everyone, that answer may differ slightly. Still, the answers above may give you a starting point when it comes to answering this question for yourself.
If you would like to read more content answering questions such as this one, we encourage you to take a peek at our website for more engaging content posts, such as the one you’ve just read.
