Were You Abused?
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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 Texas Sexual 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 Texas
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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. Texas Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer
What are the warning signs of child sexual abuse
Victims of child sexual abuse may be reluctant to speak up about what’s happening, but parents and loved ones can make it easier by looking out for the warning signs. There are common changes in behavior that may take place if someone is being abused.
One red flag is acting scared or nervous to be alone with a certain person, or being afraid to be separated from parents or other caregivers. If a child seems to be avoiding spending time with a certain person, acts rude or frightened around them, or expresses that the person makes them uncomfortable, parents should always take that seriously. (However, if a child acts friendly around someone, that doesn’t prove that person is safe—especially if other warning signs are present.)
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A child who is being abused may act out sexually in ways that aren’t age-appropriate or that suggest too much detailed knowledge of sexual acts. This may include acting out sex acts with toys or dolls, or initiating sexual games with other children. Abusers sometimes make their abuse seem innocent by turning it into a game with a harmless name; abuse victims may copy this behavior. If a child develops a pattern of sexually touching others, that can also be a warning sign.
Abuse victims may show general signs of anxiety—insomnia, nightmares, mood swings, weight changes or loss of appetite. They may produce stories or drawings with disturbing content. Younger children may revert to behaviors like thumb-sucking or wetting the bed that they had previously gotten over. Minors who are getting into their teen years may react through turning to drugs and alcohol, or self-harm such as cutting.
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Abuse victims may become secretive and difficult to talk to. Alternately, they may try to bring up the issue obliquely by dropping hints that lead to sexual topics. If a child is bringing up strange ideas in conversation, caregivers should follow up on it.
Perhaps most obviously, bruising or abrasions around a child’s private areas, or signs of sexual infection, can indicate abuse is present.
Finally, any time a parent has a gut feeling or senses something is wrong—even if they cannot point to a specific reason—that is a red flag. If caregivers suspect a child is being harmed, the most important things they can do are keep them away from anyone they act fearful of, and let the child know they’ll believe and support them no matter what.
Texas Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer
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