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Effects of Child Abuse Introduction Child sexual assault presents a serious risk to the survivor's mental health, both during childhood and into adulthood. For many children, the effects continue long after the abuse has ended and/or disclosure of the abuse. In many cases of child abuse children suffer in ways you wouldn’t imagine, for instance some children have sudden weight loss or gain, abdominal pain, vomiting, urinary tract infections, perineal bruising, and sexually transmitted infections just to name a few. Into there adolescent years children can suffer from severe depression, insomnia, sudden school failure, drug problems, criminal behavior, and some even run away from home. In this report I will discuss many of the effects of child abuse, laws against child abuse, how it affects the abused and the abuser, consequences for the abuser, and various other things. Short and Long Term Effects The emotional effects of abuse impact each child differently, depending on a wide variety of factors, including the age of the child, the child's relationship to the perpetrator(s), frequency of abuse, and specific types of abuse. Some of the common feelings experienced by sexually abused children include: guilt, betrayal, shame, self-hatred, fear, anxiety, identification with the perpetrator, a need to maintain control, depression, numbing of emotions, denial, distrust of self or others, rage, helplessness, repression, confusion about sexual issues/identity/norms, alienation from others, and loneliness. Even those who seem to be handling their abuse are concerned that: • it might happen again • they did something wrong • future relationships might be abusive While these effects are not always obvious, they are important. “Long-term studies of low achievers, runaways, drug abusers, prostitutes and incarcerated individuals paint a disturbing picture. Abuse is a consistent and pervasive element in their backgrounds. Low self-esteem and poor self-concept are ever-present.” (www.safechild.org) The initial or short-term effects of abuse usually occur within 2 years of the termination of the abuse. These effects vary depending upon the circumstances of the abuse and the child's developmental stage but may include regressive behaviors (such as a return to thumb-sucking or bed-wetting), sleep disturbances, eating problems, behavior and/or performance problems at school, and nonparticipation in school and social activities. But the negative effects of child sexual abuse can affect the victim for many years and into adulthood. Adults who were sexually abused as children commonly experience depression. Additionally, high levels of anxiety in these adults can result in self-destructive behaviors, such as alcoholism or drug abuse, anxiety attacks, situation-specific anxiety disorders, and insomnia. Many victims also encounter problems in their adult relationships and in their adult sexual functioning. Revictimization is also a common phenomenon among people abused as children. Research has shown that child sexual abuse victims are more likely to be the victims of rape or to be involved in physically abusive relationships as adults are. In short, the ill effects of child sexual abuse are wide ranging. There is no one set of symptoms or outcomes that victims experience. Some children even report little or no psychological distress from the abuse, but these children may be either afraid to express their true emotions or may be denying their feelings as a way to cope with things. They may experience no harm in the short run, but suffer serious problems later in life. Can Children Recover from Sexual Abuse?