Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse can include many things, although the general definition includes any type of non-consensual sexual contact between an adult (or older child or teen) and a child.

This can involve the following:

Physical contact- fondling, touching sexual organs, coercing the child to masturbate the perpetrator
Vaginal, anal, or oral penetration
The adult exposing him/herself to the child
Exposing the child to pornography
Deliberately putting the child in a position of having to witness an act of sexual intercourse
Talking inappropriately about the child’s developing body, and/or making sexual jokes or comments to the child

More often than not, the perpetrator is someone known to the child and quite often is a family member or friend. Sexual abuse is more than just a violation of the body. It is also a violation of the mind, heart and soul. It is a violation of trust at the most personal level, during the most vulnerable period of a person’s life.

A victim of sexual abuse may experience some or all of the following psychological issues:

Anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks, and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD)
Mood disorders--depression, intense feelings of rage and sadness
Low self-esteem- feelings of being dirty, bad, and worthless
Personality disorders
Feelings of shame and embarrassment
Substance abuse
Eating disorders
Self-harm behaviors--cutting, burning, and putting oneself in unsafe situations and other self-destructive behaviors
Suicidal ideation--Fantasizing about taking one’s life over a long period of time
Dissociative episodes
Sleep disturbances--nightmares, insomnia

The following relationship issues may also be present:

Inability to trust
Problems with emotional and physical intimacy
Issues with sexuality in general
Sexualizing relationships--turning any close relationship into a sexual one, even when inappropriate.

Welcome to In Real Life, a place of growth and hope for survivors of sexual abuse, rape and domestic violence. We are a community of people who have suffered just as you have; people who know what it’s like to feel alone, silenced, and betrayed. This is a place of acceptance; wherever you are in your life right now, whatever you are going through, you will find support, understanding and real help. Many of us have never had a place where we can feel safe to be our real selves, a place to explore and express our honest thoughts and feelings. This is such a place, and it is no small coincidence that you are here, reading this right now.

Communicate in our Public and Private forums with other members and staff. We have forums for many topics including Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse, Rape and more.

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* Images displayed in the content herein are used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in such content is a model. The display of a model's image does not suggest or imply that the model has suffered physical or mental abuse or any ailments associated therewith.