9781422276068

Introduction

the number at 1 in 10 children. Untreated traumas from sexual abuse result in higher rates of depression and anxiety, suicide, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other problems. This book will provide the facts about child sexual abuse — what it is, how it happens, and what we can do about it. Whether you have been abused yourself or you have concerns about someone else, there will be advice and information you can use.

Myth: If an adult doesn’t cause a child any physical pain, the sexual activity is not abusive or harmful. Truth: Sexual activity between an adult and a child is abuse, period. The adult in question is absolutely harming the child.

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Here are a few important things you need to know right now. First and foremost, the abuse is not the victim’s fault. Nothing he or she did — or did not do — caused the abuse to happen. No one deserves to be sexually abused. There is a lot of shame associated with these crimes, and while that’s understandable, it’s also misplaced. It is abusers who should feel ashamed, not the people they victimize. Of course, that’s all very easy to say, but it can be hard for abuse survivors to truly believe. That’s why counseling is so important — a sexual abuse survivor should not have to bear the burden all alone. Read on for more information about how to get the support you need to heal.

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