Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse May Struggle With Long-Term Effects
When you find out that your child has been sexually abused, the priority is obviously on their immediate needs for treatment and care. However, don’t let their long-term recovery fall by the wayside. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often deal with significant problems related to the abuse for many years afterward, and they may need ongoing counseling and other kinds of professional support as they develop into teens and young adults. Making sure that they have access to the medical and emotional support they need in the years to come can have a positive impact on their development and contribute to a healthy recovery.
Long-Term Therapy May Be Necessary for Children Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse
After the immediate medical and emotional needs of your child have been addressed, it’s time to start thinking about how the sexual abuse may follow them into adulthood and what can be done to ease their recovery over time. The effects of abuse can interfere with a child’s social development, emotional wellbeing, and performance at school or work well into adulthood, and these long-term issues often include:
- Depression, anxiety, and self-worth issues
- Persistent feelings of guilt, blame, and shame
- Body image and eating disorders
- Problems in family, friend, and love relationships
- Sexual issues
Abusers who prey on the children in schools, churches, day care, and youth-serving organizations should be held responsible for the unthinkable harm they have done to the lives of innocent children. If you have questions about helping your child recover or about your family’s rights, please don’t hesitate to give our law office a call at 312-332-1400 for free and confidential help with your concerns.
