Imagine for a moment. You are 8, innocent, and safe. You are basically living a normal life that every child should be able to live. One day a family friend drops by and visits a while. You, being a carefree, trusting child, automatically befriend this person. The visits from this person start becoming a regular occurrence. Each time, you become closer to them. Then he or she becomes the babysitter when your parents go out. Once alone with this person, he or she starts touching you like no one else has and in places that feel wrong. You are confused, you are scared, and you feel a sense of guilt, even though you are not at fault. You are told not to tell anyone. Either because they will hate you or something will happen to them if you tell. As a child, you believe the lies and the abuse continues.
While this is a made up scenario, it is a real scenario. When a child endures this abuse, these emotions, this fear, and this guilt, it scars them. It literally murders them emotionally. Here is a list of what survivors of child molestation have to endure for years after the abuse ends. This list is only a few of the lifetime effects:
- Depression and anxiety
- Negative self esteem/self worth
- Suicide
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Substance abuse
- PTSD
- Difficulties with sex
Source: https://www.thegomezfirm.com/child-sexual-assault-long-term-effects/