Child Sexual Abuse and their Consequences

Child Abuse

Child sexual abuse is a pressing issue in society today. Moreover, statistically there is a considerable increase in the number of cases related to juvenile sex abuse over the past decade. Most of the cases report the abuser to be a close family member or a family friend rather than a complete stranger.

Future Consequences-
  1. A sexually abused child is likely to develop severe mental health conditions and have major difficulties coping with as an adult. Therefore, one of the most common disorders affecting survivors of child sexual abuse is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Significantly, this involves the individual reliving the trauma all his/her life – thus leading to panic, stress and difficulties in living a healthy life in the longer run.
  2. Consequently, for the individuals abused as a child it is normal to suffer from a very low self -esteem. They continue to blame themselves for the events that occurred and hence have a rather demeaning view of themselves. Thus, this leads to adjustment issues in the future.
  3. They also have a diagnosis of clinical depression owing to the previous trauma. Accordingly, this hampers the everyday functioning of the individual. The individual continues to relive the past traumatic events in the mind that further fuels their depression and contribute to the vicious cycle, eventually.
Other consequences:
  1. Most often, survivors of child sexual abuse have a rather impulsive nature owing to the hampered functioning of impulse-control. Subsequently, they have lesser control over their emotions, especially anger and rather quick to act on it.
  2. Because of all the complications, there is a good chance that they become socially competent. Thus, they fail to build firm peer relationships. Therefore they grow up to be adults with severe trust issues. Hence, often sidelined because of their cynicism which leads to further depressive symptoms.
  3. By definition, Genophobia or Coitophobia is the abnormal fear of sex.  It is another complication that sexually abused kids go on experience as adults.  They usually avoid sexual intercourse altogether. Otherwise, they sometimes engage in sexual activities that come accross as rather violent in nature. Some survivors also develop certain sexual fetishes that can be rather dangerous; the most common is ‘paedophilia’ or the sexual arousal involving prepubescent children.
Conclusion–

In conclusion, the seriousness of the condition is often undermined. In treatment, various therapeutic techniques used according to the need and age of the patient. For example, psychiatrists and therapists work to promote positive thinking among the sufferers. Thus, it becomes easy for them to accept their past and move on in life with a better outlook. With proper guidance and help, and sometimes medications, the individuals overcome their mental health issues and live a wholesome life.

By Dr SUSHIL KUMAR VASANTHKUMAR SOMPUR

Dr Sushil Kumar Sompur is a psychiatrist with over 20 years of clinical experience. He pursued his MB BS in 2004 from the very prestigious Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore graduating from Mysore Medical College in 2004. He has an MD with 3 years of Successful completion of Residency in General Adult Psychiatry in 2010 from University of North Dakota, Fargo, USA. After that he has also earned his MBA (Healthcare Administration) in December, 2010 from the well reputed College of Health Sciences, Walden University, Minneapolis, USA. Dr. Sompur mainly focuses on Adult psychiatry, Geriatric psychiatry, Sleep and Sexual Disorders, De-Addiction, Adolescent and child psychiatry. Works as a Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at Antahkarana Clinic.

Apart from this he was also worked as a Resident Fellow, with full unrestricted Licensure, in Child Psychiatry at University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA. He is a professional member of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and is also an active profile of Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) of which he is a Life Fellow.

Dr. Sushil Kumar Sompur is currently practicing at Mindss Neurolinks - An antahkarana clinic pvt. ltd. venture in MCC B Block, Davanagere. You can avail a whole lot of services at his clinics that includes and is not limited to - Abnormal Behavior Treatment, Treatments for Depression Anxiety and other Neuroses, Bipolar disorder and Psychoses, Anger Management Therapy, Behavior and Thought Problems Counselling, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Treatment, Treatment of Learning Disorders and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy among other types of counseling. He has also been successful with the use of hypnotherapy with Treatment Resistant Depression as well as Treatment of seizures or fits, Unusual pain problems and Medically Un-diagnosed Symptoms.

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