Myths and Facts about Childhood Sexual Abuse

 

Dr. Pamela Vincent

 

I post this every once in a while to keep people alert. I realize it’s not comfortable to see. I get very few likes, but I feel it’s my responsibility to put it out there.

 

Don’t ever assume it can’t happen in your family. Don’t think anyone is saying your parents are bad people for ignoring it if it does happen. Don’t ignore the signs. It impacts emotional and mental development. Remember, sexual abuse doesn’t have to involve contact!

 

What is child sexual abuse?

 

Any sexual act between an adult and a minor, or between two minors, when one exerts power over the other. It may include forcing, coercing, or persuading a minor to engage in any type of sexual act.

 

It also includes NON-CONTACT acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism, communicating in a sexual manner, and commercial sexual exploitation (sex trafficking).

 

Learn more about why we call it “child sexual abuse,” and not “rape” or “molestation” here.

 

Take a look at these common beliefs and myths about sexual abuse and the facts behind them:

 

1.      Myth: Child sexual abuse doesn’t happen in “good” communities. False

2.      Myth: Children are sexually abused by strange or unknown adults. False

3.       Myth: Children are only at risk of sexual abuse from men who are pedophiles. False

4.       Myth: Child sexual abuse happens mostly to girls.

5.       Myth: Child sexual abuse can cause a child to identify as “gay”

6.       Myth: LGBTQ+ adults are more likely to abuse children than straight adults

7.      Myth: Children lie about being abused, often for attention

 

Possible Long-Term Impact

Anxiety or Depression

Avoidant Behaviors

Flashbacks

Trust issues

High cortisol levels in the brain

Effect on interpersonal relationships

The feeling one is somehow flawed and is incapable of forming romantic relationships.

Shame

One of the most profound effects of child sexual abuse is the damaging impact it can have on the ability to form and maintain close, loving relationships ‒ both intimate and platonic. It can affect the relationships that victims and survivors have at the time of the sexual abuse and for the rest of their lives. 42% of victims and survivors who participated in the Truth Project have said that child sexual abuse has adversely affected the relationships they have with others.

 

Intimate relationships

Child sexual abuse can cause difficulties in forming intimate and trusting relationships. Relationships can remind victims and survivors of sexual abuse, and there may be emotional barriers that make it difficult to talk about sexual abuse with partners.

Relationships with parents and siblings

The Inquiry has heard that some victims and survivors feel that the child sexual abuse they suffered has damaged their relationships with their parents or siblings. This may be because the perpetrator was a family member or a close friend of the family, or they may have disclosed the abuse they suffered to a family member or sibling and felt that they were not believed.

Some victims and survivors have seen family relationships suffer because their parents, siblings, or other relatives knew sexual abuse was taking place but failed to intervene.

Types of therapy that have a high percentage of success. This is because there is a biological response to trauma that is difficult for survivors to shake. It’s like a groove in the brain. While I’m not totally in the biological camp, research shows up to a 90% successful rate for the following with single-episode traumas.

 

EMDR

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a mental health treatment technique. This method involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories. EMDR’s goal is to help you heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences. 8-12 sessions on average. Used and supported by individuals like Lysa TerKeurst

 

Brain Spotting

Like EMDR, The therapist helps the client identify "brainspots," which are specific points in the visual field that are connected to traumatic or emotionally charged experiences. The client focuses on a brainspot and explores related feelings and experiences.

 

ART

Again, similar to EMDR, ART incorporates elements from other therapeutic techniques, such as CBT, mindfulness, and guided imagery. EMDR uses a structured 8-phase approach. It has been known to resolve traumatic reactions more quickly.