Sign of Sexual Abuse
The psychological, physical
and sexual consequences
of abuse can scar victims
for many years, and can
even last a lifetime. Sexual
abuse includes assault,
rape, inappropriate and/or
undesired exposure to sexually
explicit material, forcible
sodomy and unwanted fondling.
An experienced attorney,
assault lawyer, or victims
advocate is fully familiar
with the actions of perpetrators
that permit compensation
under the civil law. The
abuser can be anyone – a
stranger or someone you’ve
known all your life, perhaps
an acquaintance, relative,
partner, friend or clergyman.
Do you or someone
you know experience a Sign
of Sexual Abuse? If
so, you may have a legal
claim against the Sign of
Sexual Abuse you are experiencing.
Contact us today for a free
consultation!
It
is important, as parents,
to be aware of these signs,
and not to dismiss claims
your children make without
first listening to them
and ascertaining the veracity
of their stories. As abuse
lawyers, we are trained
to listen first, then ask
questions. If you or a
loved on has been sexually
abused it is important
to consult with a law firm
right away. Here you will
be able to speak with an
assault lawyer, a rape
lawyer, a sodomy lawyer,
a child
abuse attorney to
help guide, counsel and
advise you on whether you
have a viable claim.
Those
who have been sexually
abused may exhibit some
of the following symptoms:
- Fear
- panic attacks
- Sleeping problems
- nightmares
- Irritability
- Angry outbursts
- Startled response when
touched
- Low self-esteem
- Self-harmful behaviors:
alcohol addiction, excessive
amount of time devoted
to work or sports, depression,
self destruction, prostitution
- Inability to trust others
- Fear of losing control
in relationships
- Distorted view of sex
- May feel confused by
certain remarks, touches
or behavior that may bring
back memories of the abuse
- Lack of interest in sex
- Experience pain during
lovemaking
- Problems getting aroused
or having an orgasm
- Inexplicable chronic
pain including abdominal
pain, nausea, headaches,
backaches, shoulder pain
and menstrual pain
- Eating disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder, including denial
and repression, re-experiencing
the event, and irritability
- Recall of the event days
or weeks later
- Strong anxiety regarding
parental separation
- Regressive behaviors
(thumb sucking, bedwetting,
fear of the dark)
- Change in social interaction
with relatives or at school
including withdrawal, disruptive
behaviors, inability to
pay attention
- Flashbacks
- Dissociative symptoms
- Social withdrawal/avoidance
- Statements that their
bodies are dirty or damaged,
or fear that there is something
wrong with them in the
genital area
- Refusal to go to school
- Delinquency/conduct problems
- Secretiveness
- Demonstrating aspects
of sexual molestation in
drawings, games and fantasies
Victims
who are close to their
abusers may be afraid to
talk about the abuse and
can feel excessive guilt
over failure to prevent
it. A good abuse lawyer,
assault attorney, or rape
lawyer can help you overcome
these fears. Victims may
also feel that the consequences
of speaking up will be
far worse than the abuse
and that they are being
disloyal to the family
or community by telling
on the abuser. They may
also be embarrassed to
tell anyone what happened.
It is important that parents
be aware of research indicating
that more than two thirds
of survivors first denied
any misconducted having
taken place. Early identification
of victims appears to be
crucial in reducing the
suffering of abused youth
and establishing support
systems to aid them in
healthier functioning.
According to the U.S. Department
of Justice (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/saycrle.pdf),
the offenders are rarely
strangers to juvenile victims.
Do you or someone
you know experience a Sign
of Sexual Abuse? If
so, you may have a legal
claim against the Sign of
Sexual Abuse you are experiencing.
Contact us today for a free
consultation!
For
more information please visit
our links page.
Michael
Gunzburg is a New York
Sexual Abuse Attorney serving
the New York Metropolitan
area, including New
York City, Bronx, Brooklyn,
Manhattan, Queens, Staten
Island, Nassau, Suffolk,
Westchester, Rockland and
Orange County.
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