Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse

Physical Signs

Direct physical signs of sexual abuse are not common. However, when physical signs are present, they may include bruising, bleeding, redness and bumps, or scabs around the mouth, genital, or anus. Urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and abnormal vaginal or penile discharge are also warning signs.

There are other indirect physical signs that include:

• Persistent or recurring pain during urination or bowel movements
• Wetting or soiling accidents unrelated to toilet training
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Chronic stomach pain
• Headaches

Emotional Signs

Emotional and behavioral signs or changes are more common and can include:

• Anxiety and depression
• Sleep disturbances, including nightmares or night terrors
• Change in eating habits
• Unusual fear of certain people or places; reluctance to be alone with a certain person
• Changes in mood that could including anger, aggressiveness towards parents, siblings, friends, pets
• Rebellion or withdrawal; runaway behavior
• Change in attitude towards school or academic performance; lack of interest in friends, sports, or other activities
• Unexplained or frequent health problems like headaches or stomach aches
• Poor self-esteem; avoidance of relationships
• Self-mutilation or change in body perception, like thinking of self or body as dirty or bad; suicidal thoughts
• Regression to previously outgrown behaviors, for example bedwetting or thumb sucking
• Abnormal sexual behaviors or knowledge of advanced sexual language and behaviors
• Too “perfect” behavior or overly compliant behavior

Body Image is Closey Linked to Self-Esteem

Negative body image often brings low self-esteem. They can change the way you understand your value and worth. Healthy body image and self-esteem are a big part of well-being.

 Negative body image may cause:

• Substance Abuse
  • Teens abuse drugs or substances to control their weight or might turn to drugs or substances as an attractive way to cope with body image issues.
• Depression
  • Almost 50% of people with eating disorders meet the clinical criteria for depression.
  • Changing adolescent bodies and overwhelming hormones may create depression and body image issues.
• Anxiety
  • Body image issues may cause social anxiety and cause individuals to obsess over what others think about their bodies.
• Eating Disorders
  • Teen males with body image issues may develop eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia as a coping method.
• Excessive Weight Lifting and Injury
  • Insecurities about body image may cause males to weight lift excessively, and incorrectly, risking injury. As well as engage in a variety of exercises that may turn into compulsions.
• Suicidal Thoughts
  • Body image issues contribute to a negative sense of self, and hopelessness. Those who thought they were overweight had more suicidal thoughts than those who didn’t.

4 Types of Bullying and A Way to Stop it

Type of Bullying #1: Verbal Bullying

Verbal bullying can include teasing, inappropriate comments, name calling, threats and even offensive hand gestures. Any of these acts in written form also constitute verbal bullying.

Such bullying can lead to psychological harm for students, such as lower self-esteem, anxiety or depression.

Type of Bullying #2: Social Bullying

Social bullying can include intentionally leaving someone out of activities, excluding them from lunch tables or other groups, telling other children not to be friends with someone, embarrassing someone in public and rumor-spreading.

This type of bullying can have the same psychological effects as verbal bullying but is more likely to lead to isolation and other anti-social behavior. Parents.com says this type of bullying is more common among female students.

Type of Bullying #3: Physical Bullying

Physical bullying includes hitting, kicking, spitting, pushing and stealing or breaking someone’s belongings.

Victims of this bullying may have cuts, bruises, damaged belongings or clothes, headaches or stomach aches.

Type of Bullying #4: Cyber bullying

This emerging form of bullying includes many of the same behaviors as social and verbal bullying, only they take place online. There are countless ways that students can communicate these days, but social media has made it easier to target individuals and publish threatening, hurtful or offensive information about someone.

Victims of cyber bullying will exhibit similar behaviors to victims of social or verbal bullying, but it may be joined by a dramatic change in their use of social media and other online channels.

Ways to Combat All Types of Bullying

Authority figures, including parents and teachers, can encourage students to report bullying whenever they see it, whether its directed at them or another person. Anonymous tip lines can be a great way to encourage reporting, without your child feeling as though they will be more harshly persecuted by the bully.

Giving students anti-bullying training is also a good way to stop bullying. I offer a talk that I can come to your child's school to address bullying. Its been researched and found that students given anti-bullying training make a bigger different curbing bullying than teachers or school staff members.

Adults should never tell a student to simply ignore bullying or to fight back. Even though this feels like sound advice, often times the situation can get worse if this is the action the child/student takes. Similarly, if an authority figure speaks to a bully once and forgets the matter it will likely do little to solve the problem. Consistent intervention and support is best when trying to handle matters such as chronic bullying. 

If you have concerns that need to be addressed with the school, advocate for your child/student, if you need outside support in this ask for a student advocate, call a therapist, or programs like ARC that are in the community.