Sign of Sexual Abuse

The psychological, physical and sexual consequences of abuse can scar victims for many years, and can even last a lifetime. Sexual abuse includes assault, rape, inappropriate and/or undesired exposure to sexually explicit material, forcible sodomy and unwanted fondling. An experienced attorney, assault lawyer, or victims advocate is fully familiar with the actions of perpetrators that permit compensation under the civil law. The abuser can be anyone – a stranger or someone you’ve known all your life, perhaps an acquaintance, relative, partner, friend or clergyman.

Do you or someone you know experience a Sign of Sexual Abuse? If so, you may have a legal claim against the Sign of Sexual Abuse you are experiencing. Contact us today for a free consultation!

It is important, as parents, to be aware of these signs, and not to dismiss claims your children make without first listening to them and ascertaining the veracity of their stories. As abuse lawyers, we are trained to listen first, then ask questions. If you or a loved on has been sexually abused it is important to consult with a law firm right away. Here you will be able to speak with an assault lawyer, a rape lawyer, a sodomy lawyer, a child abuse attorney to help guide, counsel and advise you on whether you have a viable claim.

Those who have been sexually abused may exhibit some of the following symptoms:

• Fear - panic attacks
• Sleeping problems - nightmares
• Irritability
• Angry outbursts
• Startled response when touched
• Low self-esteem
• Self-harmful behaviors: alcohol addiction, excessive amount of time devoted to work or sports, depression, self destruction, prostitution
• Inability to trust others
• Fear of losing control in relationships
• Distorted view of sex
• May feel confused by certain remarks, touches or behavior that may bring back memories of the abuse
• Lack of interest in sex
• Experience pain during lovemaking
• Problems getting aroused or having an orgasm
• Inexplicable chronic pain including abdominal pain, nausea, headaches, backaches, shoulder pain and menstrual pain
• Eating disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, including denial and repression, re-experiencing the event, and irritability
• Recall of the event days or weeks later
• Strong anxiety regarding parental separation
• Regressive behaviors (thumb sucking, bedwetting, fear of the dark)
• Change in social interaction with relatives or at school including withdrawal, disruptive behaviors, inability to pay attention
• Flashbacks
• Dissociative symptoms
• Social withdrawal/avoidance
• Statements that their bodies are dirty or damaged, or fear that there is something wrong with them in the genital area
• Refusal to go to school
• Delinquency/conduct problems
• Secretiveness
• Demonstrating aspects of sexual molestation in drawings, games and fantasies

Victims who are close to their abusers may be afraid to talk about the abuse and can feel excessive guilt over failure to prevent it. A good abuse lawyer, assault attorney, or rape lawyer can help you overcome these fears. Victims may also feel that the consequences of speaking up will be far worse than the abuse and that they are being disloyal to the family or community by telling on the abuser. They may also be embarrassed to tell anyone what happened. It is important that parents be aware of research indicating that more than two thirds of survivors first denied any misconducted having taken place. Early identification of victims appears to be crucial in reducing the suffering of abused youth and establishing support systems to aid them in healthier functioning. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/saycrle.pdf), the offenders are rarely strangers to juvenile victims.

Do you or someone you know experience a Sign of Sexual Abuse? If so, you may have a legal claim against the Sign of Sexual Abuse you are experiencing. Contact us today for a free consultation!

For more information please visit our links page.

Michael Gunzburg is a New York Sexual Abuse Attorney serving the New York Metropolitan area, including New York City, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Orange County.