Sexual Abuse

  Sexual Abuse is *when a victim is forced to have sex or forced to preform sexual acts that they have verbal said "No" or "I do NOT WANT TO!"

   In most cases of sexual abuse never gets reported. Many victim's of sexual abuse do NOT open up & talk about it, & if or when the victim does talk about the abuse, report  the abuse, or tell someone about the abuse it is usually  many years later mainly because:

  * They (are/were) scared. In many cases the abuser threatens to do bodily harm or threatens to kill the victim &/or the victim's families.

* Many victim's don't like to report or talk about the abuse because they feel guilty. Many victims feel like the abuse was their fault & they somehow caused the abuse to happen.

* Many victim's are ashamed or embarrassed.

* Many victim's don't feel like anybody will believe them.

 There are 2 types of sexual abuse:

* Molestation is when a child is sexually touched by an adult.

* Rape is when someone is forcing sexual acts, such as have sex, intercourse, oral sex, or is made to sexually touched or been touched by anyone who has said "NO" to or has rejected any &/or all sexual advances! Rape also includes sexually touching or any sexual advances without a person giving you permission to do so. Another form of Rape is sexually touching, or making sexual acts on someone who is "sleeping" or "uncounsious".

 WARNING SIGNS OF SEXUAL ABUSE:

* The victim may cry or be emotional more than usual.

* The victim may become depressed.

* The victim may isolate themselves.

* The victim's demeanor or attitude may change in general or around a specific person who may have abused them.

WARNING SIGNS OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN CHILDREN:

* The child's behavior may change dramatically.

* Most children will act out @ home & @ school.

* Most children will have a dramatic change in attitude.

* Most children will start to misbehave or get in trouble @ school &/or @ home.

* The child may start to wet/pee in the bed.

* The child may act out sexual by sexually touching other children or adults.

* Children may start to have nightmares.

* Many children may sexual touch toys such as bears, baby dolls, or Barbie dolls. Children may start to destroy their toys.