How can you tell if someone was molested as a child?

Question

Hello, Everyone!

I'm sorry about this question, but:

Is there any way to tell if someone was molested as a child? Are there certain characteristics or anything they get/have when they get older?

Again, sorry about this question!

Thanks, Everyone!

Answer 1

Common Symptoms in Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
There can be one or several of these manifestations in a person. Every individual deals with these issues differently.

Physical Presentations
Chronic pelvic pain
Gastrointestinal symptoms/distress
Musculoskeletal complaints
Obesity, eating disorders
Insomnia, sleep disorders
Pseudocyesis
Sexual dysfunction
Asthma, respiratory ailments
Addiction
Chronic headache
Chronic back pain
Psychologic and Behavioral Presentations
Depression and anxiety
Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
Dissociative states
Repeated self-injury
Suicide attempts
Lying, stealing, truancy, running away
Poor contraceptive practices
Compulsive sexual behaviors
Sexual dysfunction
Somatizing disorders
Eating disorders
Poor adherence to medical recommendations
Intolerance of or constant search for intimacy
Expectation of early death

Answer 2

No, you can't tell that about a person, although there are some characteristics that all molestation victims have in common.
Ones history is a very private thing, though, and I would be hesitant to ask anyone if they'd suffered molestation. They may have already dealt with it and put it aside, or they may have decided NOT to deal with it at all, or they may be repressing some severely painful memories.
Are you qualified to help someone if you find that they have been molested? Doubtful!
If not, better not borrow trouble.
Good luck

Answer 3

Don't apologize. Everyone handles sexual abuse differently, so I can't say that there is one profile for all victims. Some general traits which might apply to some victims are nightmares, sexual repression or acting out, lack of trust, unwillingness to talk about a certain person or time period. As you can see, this could apply to just about anyone. Easier to pinpoint are the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: anxiety attacks, eating disorders, depression, flashbacks. I posted a link so you can read up about PTSD.

Answer 4

Most of time you can tell and I'll give you a couple huge signs.

1) Afraid of getting hurt by their boyfriend even if everything is going really well.

2) Their voice will stay almost the same as when they were the age that they got molested. (They still sound like a little girl)

Of course these aren't 100% but a couple things to look for.

Answer 5

Not really, but they may be alittle guarded or nervous around a certain sex and may either be to sexaul or asexual. But that is if you know them personally and still only in a small portion of the population.

With most you would never know.

Answer 6

They hate when someone touches them. Reaction is near violent.
DONT TOUCH ME !!! is i suspect to be the most obvious.

Answer 7

The best way to find out would be to ask them. They don't have any particularly common trend among them, although certain things may stand out, as Dierdre noted.

Answer 8

Not just by looking at them. You'd have to get to know them and talk to them, and only then will they disclose their past to you, if they trust you, that is.

Answer 9

I think that they;as an adult-tend to be over cautious/protective-about a child-when an un-abused adult wouldnt even think of such an occurance ever happening !

Answer 10

I can't think of a female friend that WASN"T molested at some level during thier childhood.
Sad, but true.