Sexual abuse can be defined as any experience during childhood or adolescence, which involves inappropriate sexual attention by another person, usually an adult, but sometimes an older child, teenager, or even a same-aged playmate. This attention might involve sexualized language, sexual touching, being forced to perform manual or oral sex on another person, oral, vaginal, or anal penetration, exposure to sexual behavior or to pornography. The behavior may be forced, coerced, or even willingly engaged in by the survivor, but is understood as abusive because a child cannot truly give free consent. Any activity that a person feels violates her or his boundaries may fall within the realm of sexual abuse.
An estimated 17% to 22% of children experience some kind of sexual abuse.
Most people sexually abused as children experience some difficulties, as adults, related to the abuse. Problems can range from:
- The absence of memories for a period of childhood.
- Disinterest or excessive interest in sexual feeling or activities.
- Fear of dating or close relationships.
- Feelings of shame about the self, as though there is something inherently wrong or defective in the self.
- Low self-esteem.
- Body image distortions.
- Dissociative experiences.
- Depression.
- Eating disorders.
- Anxiety disorders.
- Engagement in self-inflicted violence.
- Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, such as flashbacks.
- Hyper vigilance.
- Agitation.
- Severe trouble sleeping.
- A person may keep her or his experience of being sexually abused a secret, often ashamed and afraid to share this part of the self and the past with others.
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General Resources:
Denver Metro Area Resources:
Colorado School Safety Hotline
(877) 542-SAFE
Denver Center for Crime Victims
(303) 860-0660
Adams Community
Mental Health Center
(303) 853-3500
Aurora Mental Health Center
(303) 617-2300
Boulder Mental Health Center
(303) 433-8500
Comitis Crisis Center (Aurora)
(303) 341-9160
Jefferson County
Center for Mental Health
(303) 425-0300
Jefferson County
Child Advocacy Center
(303) 987-4885
Mental Health Corporation
of Denver
(303) 377-4300
Servicios de la Raza
(mental health services in Spanish)
(303) 458-5851
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