If you were sexually abused as a child by a priest, deacon or any other member of the Catholic Church, you are not alone. We are here to help you. Please fill out our confidential online contact form or call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 and a New JerseySexual Abuse Lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your possible case. Help is available nationwide. There is no cost to investigate and there are no legal fees unless you receive financial compensation. Making the call is sometimes the hardest step, but it is often a necessary step on the road to healing. Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer New Jersey
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Please call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 or fill out our confidential contact form and a lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your case. New Jersey Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer
What are the common emotional effects of child sexual abuse?
When a child is sexually abused, they are deprived of their fundamental human right to engage in sexual activity only by their own choice and at the right developmental time. They are introduced to sexuality at a time when they do not fully understand it, and as a result they feel shame, humiliation and anger. The emotional effects can be severe and lifelong.
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One of the most common emotional effects of sexual abuse is depression. Although the abuser’s actions weren’t the victim’s fault, he or she may have difficulty externalizing negative feelings about what happened. Rather than blaming the perpetrator, the victim may direct negative thoughts inward. Victims may end up feeling worthless and engaging in harsh self-criticism. They may believe the abuse was their fault - especially if the abuser was a family member or trusted family friend whom they have a hard time seeing as a bad person. The things the abuser says may contribute to this problem because the abuser will claim the victim was acting seductive, or that what happened is a “little secret” both parties are in on.
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Depression can manifest itself in multiple ways, including suicidal thoughts and other forms of self-harm. It’s common for people coping with depression to feel antisocial and to lack the energy to do basic life tasks and self-care. They may also have disturbed sleeping patterns (insomnia, irregular sleep schedule) and eating patterns.
Closely related to depression are stress and anxiety. While the human fight-or-flight response evolved to protect us from immediate threats, in people with chronic anxiety this state of heightened alert remains all the time, making it impossible to relax. Anxious people may experience panic attacks and PTSD-like symptoms (such as unexpected flashbacks to the abuse). In fact, their PTSD symptoms can be similar to those of combat veterans. They may also be triggered by sights, sounds or smells that remind them of the abuse.
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Sexual abuse damages a person’s ability to feel comfortable in their own body. One result is eating disorders and body dysmorphia. A person may feel a high level of disgust at their body, or think of themselves as ugly and dirty. Eating disorder sufferers may feel compelled to restrict eating or purge in order to purify themselves, or to reduce the appearance of sexualized body features such as breasts and hips. Stress, depression and body disgust can all result in physical symptoms such as headaches, upset stomach, pelvic pain and difficulty swallowing.
Finally, people who have lived through trauma may experience amnesia, meaning it can take years or even decades for memories of the abuse to surface.
Abuse victims should not suffer in silence, but should seek out therapy to help them process what happened to them.
Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer New Jersey
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