After being sexually molested as children, adults may experience emotional & psychological effects, such as intimate relationship problems, insomnia, or eating disorders.

If you’re a survivor of child abuse, you may not experience all of the following emotional and psychological effects. However, experts say that most people who were sexually molested as children will experience at least one of these long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse.

Emotional Effects of Sexual Abuse

Feelings of emotional distress are common when you’re a victim of child sex abuse. “The burden of feeling at fault combined with minimal support over many years almost always leads to emotional problems for the victim,” writes Roger Hock in Human Sexuality.

Anger toward yourself, the abuser, or another adult who should have noticed and stopped the abuse, but did not. Survivors of sex abuse may be angry for years or decades.

Self-hatred due to feelings of blame, shame, and low self-worth. Victims of child sex abuse may feel that they’re less worthy or less valuable.

Guilt for participating but not telling anyone.

Self-blame for “tempting” the abuser, especially if he/she is a respected or loved family member or friend of the family.

Isolation from “normal” people. Victims of child sex abuse may feel unworthy of love or intimacy when they’re adults, which can lead to intimate relationship problems.

If you were sexually molested as a child – or if the abuse is ongoing – an important first step is to tell as many people as you feel comfortable telling. If one doesn’t believe you, keep telling until someone does. Talking to a counselor or psychologist will help you deal with the emotional effects of sexual abuse.

Psychological Effects of Sexual Abuse

“The trauma of childhood sexual abuse leaves long-lasting psychological scars years and decades after the abuse has ended. Childhood sexual abuse, like rape, robs victims of their personal power and sense of control over their lives and their bodies,” writes Roger Hock in Human Sexuality.

Dissociation involves blocking out awareness and memory, such as daydreams, loss of awareness for blocks of time, or even the development of multiple personalities.

Anxiety, panic, or phobic disorders may stem from the sexual abuse itself or from the fear that the sexual molestation will be discovered. Some survivors of child sexual abuse prefer to keep the activities secret (especially if the abuser pressured the victim to keep it quiet).

Abuse of drugs or alcohol may occur, because they help deaden the feelings of guilt, self-hatred, shame, or self-blame.

Post-traumatic stress disorder resulting in flashbacks or the avoidance of certain places or things related to the childhood sexual molestation. Difficulty concentrating, insomnia, or hyper-vigilance are symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Suicidal behavior may be a psychological consequence of childhood sexual abuse.

“When we feel powerless and unable to control our own destinies, we invariably suffer from a wide range of psychological disorders – most notably, depression,” writes Hock in Human Sexuality. “Adding to the depression stemming from the powerlessness is the sadness victims often experience over the loss of innocence and the loss of trust once held for the adult responsible for the violation.”

If you’re a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, you don’t have to deal with these long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse indefinitely. Getting help – even if it’s from a wise friend, pastor at your church, or informal support group – is the best way to overcome the emotional distress.

Childhood sexual abuse doesn’t have to haunt you forever.

If you found When You’re a Victim of Sex Abuse helpful, you might try:

• Physical Effects of Child Abuse
• Kids’ Emotions in Play Therapy
• Surviving Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Source: Human Sexuality by Roger Hock – a reader-friendly textbook full of resources and practical information.