THE SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILD (is one in your house?!!?)

No child is psychologically prepared to cope with sexual assualt. Even a two or three year old, who cannot know the sexual activity is wrong, will develop problems resulting from the inability to cope with the assualt. A child who is the victim sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can become suicidal.Some children who have been sexually abused have difficulty relating to others except on sexual terms. Some sexually abused children become child abusers or prostitutes, or have other serious problems when they reach adulthood. Often there are no obvious external signs of child sexual abuse. Some signs can only be detected on physical exam by a physician.