Signs of Sexual Abuse

(an excerpt from "A Mother's Love Defiled by Incest"

by J. Marilyn Van Wingerden, PhD)

"Symptoms differ for various ages and developmental stages.  This list should be handled with care as in some instances the symptoms could also be associated with "normal" behavior.  It is critical to look at the profile of the whole and full-range of information regarding the child.

Infancy-Early Childhood age 4 and under

Fearful:  nightmares, sleep disturbances, recoils from a particular individual

Suspicious physical findings:  genital, urinary infections, irritations, injuries, frequent sores or sore throat, sexually transmitted diseases, unexplainable excretions.

Developmental delays:  walking, talking, potty training difficulty, clinging, withdrawn, whining, hyperactivity, intense fear of another, sleep problems; regression, i.e. baby talk, bedwetting, thumbsucking.

Other:  staring blankly, mood swings, loneliness, shame, daydreaming, cruelty to other, secretive, sexual preoccupation, biting and other aggression.

Late Childhood and Middle age 5 - 10

Sudden onset of depression, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, weight gain/loss, psychosomatic problems - stomach aches, headaches, fatigue; i.e. sudden school failure, truancy, disturbed peer interactions, cruelty to others, sexual involvement with younger children; excessive bathing, suspicious physical findings, withdrawn, staring blankly, mood swings, secretive, lying cheating, anger, blunted emotions, sexual preoccupation (masturbation), seductiveness, gender confusion, runaway, drinking, drugs.

Late Childhood and Early Adolescence age 11 - 14

Guilt and shame evidenced in low self-esteem and poor body image, unkempt in dress appearance, isolates, stares blankly and is withdrawn in a fantasy world, mood swings, aggressive and defiant or extremely well behaved/a people pleaser, insomnia, hypersomnia, short-term memory problem, physical problems, fainting spells, out-of-body experiences, epileptic-like seizures; hostile, lying, cheating, secretive (appearing distant at times), sexual preoccupation, low sexual self-esteem, sexual abuse of younger children; fear of homosexuality, gender identity problems, threats of suicide, drinking and drugs; any or all of the above.

Late Adolescence age 15 - 17

Self-depreciation, depression, emotionally numb and appears hard, indifferent, hostile and defiant, high rebellion acting out pain in drinking/drugs, prostitution and alienation from the establishments of parents and society; pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, anorexia, high aggression or consistently laidback; sexual preoccupation, low sexual self-esteem, and sexual abuse of younger children; social isolation, suicidal attempts, self-mutilation.

Adult age 18 and over

Chronic depression symptoms, anxiety and panic attacks, phobias, guilt feelings of defenselessness/powerlessness, low self-confidence and self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, psychosomatic symptoms - migraines, chronic pain, nausea; seductiveness, promiscuity, frigidity, fear of inability to sexually perform, difficulty in intimate and marriage relationships, displaces energy to overachievement, problem with authority figures; memory gaps of childhood, feeing detached, emotional shut-down, or hyper-emotional, lacks boundaries (internal and external); lesbianism (starved for nurturing), revictimized by incest or rape, sexual abuse of other; any or all of the above.

The key is that any sudden, excessive symptom or behavior that continues over time should be explored by a professional counselor with expertise in sexual abuse."

Not surprising that sexual abuse, whether covert or overt delivers a serious, long-term impact on the victim-child. Without help early on, the growing child is left to cope alone. Having become so unable to function productively, develop potential, or believe in his or her own worth, confrontation with authority (be it church or legal system), eventually occurs. Behavior gradually becomes inappropriate, socially unacceptable or out-of-control. Professional help is essential. This is why I ask concerned people like you...Didja know...?  Please be a concerned citizen, an informed citizen, and act now on behalf of a child.  Even if that child is YOU!