What is the most common effect or disorder people can get if they were sexually abused as a child?

Question

and why does that have such a huge impact on a person, being sexually abused as a child by a family member?

Answer 1

maybe dissociative personality disorder, or post traumatic stress disorder, or major depression. Or all the above, and more. Why? because a child's family is her world, her safe harbor, her family is her mirror on the world and forms her lifelong patterns of trust and expectations. If her family member is abusing her, and no one else protects her, she becomes distrustful of people in general. It may seem like people only touch her if they want to hit or hurt her sexually. She may withdraw from any social interaction, and have no real capacity to love or trust anyone.

Answer 2

I was sexually abused as a child and endured physical and psychological abuse. This started when I was 4. The sexual abuse was about the only non-punitive physical contact I had with anyone.
I started sexually abusing other children and continued having sexual contact with children well into adulthood. I underwent over 10 years of thereapy once a week for several hours.
I quit doing this 25 years ago.
The desire never goes away. I try to get my mind on something else when I have fantasies. I have dreams about sexual contact with children.
Knowing how my life was and no doubt how some of my victims' life has been, I would rather spend my life in an institution than harm another child. I have to be aware and control my relationships all the time.
Most of the abusers I was in therapy with had been sexually abused as children and had physically / psychologically abusive father figures in their lives.
I did not have usual relationships with other children or relationships with adults until after spending 3 enlistments in the military and after the 10 years of therapy.
I think the punishment for offenders is not always justified, but the must be in a situation where they don't abuse children or others.
However, most of this is closing the barn door after the horse is gone. I think recognition and prevention are more important.
The first time I inquired about therapy, I was turned away.
I know this is going to outrage some people on here, but what it is, is what it is.
I've had people say I did not have the right to molest other children or children as an adult. Right, but this was the way I learned to connect with others and show affection as I did not molest children I didn't like. Sexual gratification was about the only pleasure I had and I wanted others to enjoy it with me.

Answer 3

It goes either way. It can either make that child get exposed to more sex or hatred towards the gender that offended them. They become paranoid. Others may try to suppress the whole issue down in the hole rather than talking about it. Some just withdraw from the crowd. In some cases that child becomes a freak and go on a killing spree or gets even more vulnerable and haves more sex with whatever gender that offended them. Sometimes even the opposite sex. Those people feel that they've got nothing to live for because their innocence and value in life has been taking away.

Answer 4

This question is so close to my heart because I was one of those children that were abused while growing up. It really affected my life I didn't understand why it happened to me. I went through a lot of therapy but honestly it didn't help that much it took life to knock me into realizing that it wasn't my fault and that I controlled my life not what happened to me. I do have a mental disorder I am bi-polar but I don't think that stems from the abuse. When I was younger I was diagnosed with major depression and PPSD. I still deal with the feeling of depression but I don't let it get to me. I am a mother now of 3 great children that I swear I will never let them go through what I went through. I think I am more careful then most people when it come to strangers and my children but at the same time I try not to protect them to much as that they do need to lead a normal life. I still see a therapist and she recently told me that my sex drive (I have a huge one) actually more than likely stems from the abuse as well and that I was introduced to sex at a young age. So to this day it is still affecting my life and it more then likely will for the rest of it I just won't let it control it.

Answer 5

Why does it have such a huge impact??? Gee, I don't know, try imagining what it must have been like in their shoes. The effects are devastating because alot of times, the children who are being abused suppress what happened to them. It's too painful to think about. When they get older it will come out somehow in their behavior and might not be aware of it like: afraid of being intimate, being withdrawn, not being able to trust. Therapy is really important to get all the negative feelings out. The number one emotions experienced are anger and powerlessness.

Answer 6

Has it happened to someone you know to ask this question? I was s abused when I was nine by my stepfather, and I still lived with him and my mother until I was ready to move out( nothing else happened during that time) I had actually blocked the whole lot out and learnt how to block anything out from there, I never let deppression get a hold of me, I never trusted any men, but I could sense when they were okay, I actually hate him now and it makes me feel acidic towards him, especially now that I have a child, but no I don't get the urge or feeling to harm innocent little children just makes me want to protect them more, i've just got on with my life, it could affect you in different ways in different people I guess, and no my mother doesn't know anything about it, she would probably not believe me anyway- one day I will tell her.

Answer 7

normally inability to trust and some form of a sex adiction. sex addicts get no pleasure from sex itself- they don't feel an interaction or connection with people when they are not having sex. so they have sex to feel a connection and then feel disgusted over it. but they can't stop.
some don't get an addiction in the sense of needing it four times a day- but they use sex to form friendships and show that they like someone. both of these kinds of people feel sex is the only way they have to connect with someone else.

when you are abused by a family member your trust is hurt more- some strangers are dangerous but your family is suppose to protect you. its also harder to escape that abuse.

Answer 8

they could feel they are not safe around men or women depending on there situation and feeling like all men/women are bad. it could damage them and make them feel unsafe around everyone, maybe even there own mom/dad. It can be some sad situations.... poor people

Answer 9

depression is the most common disorder among these people,i believe...

Answer 10

They like to sexually abuse others.
The sexual abuse does not have to be by a family member. Although a large percentage is, and even larger percentage is NOT.