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Myths, Facts, and other games

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Ducky Bumpkins
Captain

PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:16 pm


Here are some Myths, facts and games. You can add to it if you want. Mostly, if you post in here, you have to say where you found your information.
PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:18 pm


Here are some symptoms I thought everyone mgiht find interesting when it comes to child sexual abuse.

Characteristics of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA)

Fear/Shame/Guilt/Powerlessness/Helplessness/Betrayal/Dissociation

Sexual abuse creates fear, shame and guilt in the victimised child. Physical damage may heal but the emotional and psychological scars remain for a long time. Perhaps the most severe damage is caused by betrayal.

Betrayal by an adult, especially when that adult is supposed to be protecting and caring for the child, is a devastating experience.

The Fear has several components: anticipation of pain, anticipation of disapproval by the perpetrator and worry about threats to other family members.

Shame seems to be built into most of us, especially when the abuse is incestuous. There's also the possibility that the victim absorbs the abuser's shame and guilt.

Guilt is often felt by a survivor because she or he has become sexually aroused during the abuse. Guilt is also frequently felt when the survivor does -- or doesn't -- report the abuse. Many survivors feel guilty because they went back for more, or didn't say No.

The helplessness and powerlessness of a child assaulted by an adult is real, terrifying and breeds lasting consequences.

Dissociation -- the separation of mind from body -- enables a child to survive the horror by imagining that the abuse is happening to someone else.

Symptoms in Adult Survivors

Among the effects of CSA are the following. Sometimes these symptoms do not appear for decades.

Nightmares
Flashbacks
Distrust
Sexual hangups
Physical ailments
Depression
Guilt
Fear
Anger
Confusion
Self-mutilation
Relationship difficulties
Self-doubt
Voices
Hallucinations
Suicidal thoughts
Addictions
Powerlessness
Helplessness
Negativity.

Nightmares

These may be direct images, almost recollections, of the abuse or they may be symbolic. While non-abused people also suffer occasional nightmares, survivors experience repetitious, terrifying dreams in which they feel helpless and suffocatingly trapped.

Flashbacks

Sickening sensory images suddenly occur which vividly bring back the sights, sounds, physical and emotional feelings of the abuse.

Distrust

With good cause, survivors are usually distrustful of the opposite sex, authority figures -- and themselves.

Sexual hangups

Inhibitions and fears about sexual activity range from mild to severely disturbed.

Physical ailments

The emotional, psychological and physical stress of abuse often takes its toll in physical illness as the body remembers being betrayed.

Depression

Feelings of worthlessness, apathy, self-loathing, can drown a survivor.

Guilt

A mixture of self-blame for the activity, feeling bad about hating the abuser, horror at partial enjoyment, and possibly, absorption of some of the abuser's guilt feelings.

Fear

Childhood abuse teaches the victim that the world is an untrustworthy place. Fear can infiltrate every aspect of the survivor's life.

Anger

Unfortunately often directed inward, anger can be a liberating emotion when the survivor directs it at the appropriate targets.

Confusion

Uncertainty about what the abuse means (how can pain be love? Why is a caretaker betraying me?) overwhelms the child -- and festers in the adult.

Self-mutilation

To avoid the pain and guilt of blaming the perpetrator (especially in cases of incest) the victim may physically hurt herself or himself. Self-mutilation ranges from tattoos and n****e-rings to sexual violence and enemas. [HW writes: "tattoos and body piercings are considered a beautiful thing by some individuals. These practices are celebrated, not condemmed, by many tribes and cultures around the world."]

Relationship difficulties

Clearly a distrustful, confused, angry survivor is likely to have difficulties relating with other people.

Self-doubt

Childhood sexual abuse is frequently accompanied with verbal abuse. Accusations of being stupid make a deep impression on a helpless, victimised child. This feeling of powerlessness persists into adulthood.

Voices

Frequently the various parts of the survivor, including the derogatory messages about being bad, stupid, unwanted, unlovable, etc., are heard as thoughts or even sounds.

Hallucinations

Somewhat like Flashbacks but which the survivor sees in front of her, like blood on the bathroom floor.

Hallucinations may also be "negative", i.e., not seeing something (like car keys) which are actually there.

Suicidal thoughts

Self-blame to the extreme. When the pain becomes too much to bear, suicide may seem to be the ultimate solution.

Addictions

Slow suicide. Also an attempt to dampen down the pain. May range from the legal (alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, prescription drugs) to the illegal (prostitution, street drugs).

Powerlessness

A feeling of having been stripped of dignity and effectiveness.

Helplessness

A feeling of being held down, of being directed by others.

Negativity

Generally noticing what's wrong, rather than what's right. Expecting the worst.

All this information was found at: http://www.hypnosis.org/overcomingCSA.htm

Ducky Bumpkins
Captain


Ducky Bumpkins
Captain

PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:25 pm


Here are some common myths when dealing with child sexual abuse. it's in the form of a quiz. You can copy paste with the answer you think it is.

1. Child molesters typically use physically force and/or threats to gain compliance from their victims.

Fact? Myth?

2. Most child molesters find their victims by frequenting such places as school yards and playgrounds; therefore, all parents should be extremely concerned for their children's safety in such places.

Fact? Myth?

3. Most child molesters are "dirty old men."

Fact? Myth?

4. Child molesters are only attracted to children, and, therefore, are not capable of engaging in appropriate sexual relationships with consenting adults.

Fact? Myth?

5. Victims of child molestation are harmed only when offenders use force to make the victim have sex with them.

Fact? Myth?

6. Children often lie by making up stories of sexual abuse.

Fact? Myth?

7. If a child doesn't tell anyone about the sexual abuse, then he/she must have liked it.

Fact? Myth?

8. Children generally recover from the effects of sexual abuse on their own. It is best to keep the abuse a secret, so that they don't have to endure talking to any one else about it.

Fact? Myth?

9. A rape offender commits his offense for sexual gratification.

Fact? Myth?

10. Offenders could stop their sexually offending behavior on their own, if only they really wanted to stop.

All it takes is a desire to do so.

Fact? Myth?

11. Men who rape do so because they cannot find a consenting partner.

Fact? Myth?

12. Some men rape because they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Fact? Myth?

13. If a rape victim doesn't fight back, then she/he must have enjoyed it.

Fact? Myth?

14. If a rape victim does not say "no", then she/he must have enjoyed it.

Fact? Myth?

Once you've found out which are fact and which are myth, highlight this:
Surprise! All 14 questions/statements from the quiz are MYTHS

Here are the answers:
1. Only 10- 15% of child molesters use force or threats.

2. Most child molesters offend against children they know and/or with whom they have a relationship.

3. Majority of sex offenders are men, typically in their late 20's/early 30's and lead average lifestyles.

4. Most child molesters fall into 2 categories: Regressive offenders are primarily interested in adults but may regress and seek inappropriate comfort from a child. They represent the majority of molesters. Fixated child molesters (about 35%) are usually called ***** and are attracted to children as their primary sexual interest.

5. Victims can suffer many forms of physical and emotional harm including fear, shame, guilt, embarrassment and rejection.

6. Cases of children making up stories are rare.

7. Children won't tell because they are ashamed, afraid, protective of parents, afraid they'll be blamed.

8. The level of trauma that is incurred is based on many factors. With appropriate support, children can work through their trauma.

9. Rape is not about sex, but rather, anger, control and power.

10. Sex offenders are not able to stop their offending on their own.

11. Most rape offenders are married or have relationships with consenting adults.

12. Some offenders may be under the influence of drugs and/ or alcohol which may lower their inhibitions, but it cannot be blamed or used as an excuse for rape.

13. Many victims do not fight back out of fear.

14. Victims often do not say no for a variety of reasons including fear of being killed or severely injured


Hope you had fun on our little game! Don't forget, you have to highlight to see the answers. I'm smart! sweatdrop

The link: http://www.smith-lawfirm.com/Connsacs_Myth_Quiz.htm
PostPosted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 3:10 pm


I hope you get more. I think these open up people's eye to what really is true. I even got a few of them wrong. And I consider myself very knowledgable on this subject.

BigMongo

Eloquent Nerd

8,125 Points
  • Nerd 50
  • Elocutionist 200
  • 50 Wins 150

Ducky Bumpkins
Captain

PostPosted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:18 am


That's perfectly alright. Everyone can make mstakes once in awhile. I'm glad you played, though.
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