Signs Of Sexual Abuse - What To Watch For
Can Sexual Abuse Of Children Lead To Eating Disorders?

Signs of sexual abuse are observed through a person's physical, emotional and behavioral health. Sadly, many of these victims will be plagued by health issues for the better part of their lives. The sexual abuse of children might possibly lead to phases of disordered eating, promiscuity, or formal eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.

Earlier research (Connors and Morse, 1993), suggested little evidence to support the onset of the signs of sexual abuse in connection with eating disorders.

However, the Journal Of The American Medical Association (Silverman) more recently published articles that suggested that high school girls who had suffered sexual abuse were three to four times more likely to take up eating disordered behaviors than girls who had not been abused.

In this light, it might even be fair to say signs of sexual abuse come not as a direct cause of eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia, but rather as a risk factor, or predisposition, for their development.

Signs Of Sexual Abuse And Eating Disorders

Signs of sexual abuse may not be obvious in the beginning. Most victims tend to keep their shame, embarrassment and other hurtful feelings inside, while others try -- with every ounce of power they've got -- to bury or erase the horrific memories from their minds.

Eating disorders are just one of the many unhealthy coping mechanisms that an individual may develop in order to banish the psychological (or sometimes physical) pain of abuse.

Those who engage in the self-starvation of anorexia nervosa find their attention rigidly and obsessively focused on food, calorie counting and weight issues, which leads to emotional numbing and phases of euphoria.

Binge-and-purge cycles in bulimia nervosa bring on trance-like states that numb out overwhelming feelings of anxiety, sadness, self hatred and rage. Some people see purging as an act of violence against the body. In this sense, purging behavior may metaphorically represent the violence of abuse that was inflicted on the victim as a child.

Anorexia and bulimia are among the list of self-destructive behaviors that create the illusion that one is in control of their own body. A few other examples of self injurious behaviors might be: self cutting, burning, taking diet pills or excessive drinking.

What Are The Signs Of Sexual Abuse?

The sexual abuse of children -- or anyone else for that matter -- is a criminal offense. In some cases a child may be too young (emotionally or cognitively) to express what happened to them. It is up to each one of us to watch for various signs and symptoms, and report them to authorities as necessary.

Some possible physical (or otherwise obvious) signs of sexual abuse are:

• Child receives an unusual amount of attention from a father or other authority figure
• Complaints of abdominal or stomach pain
• Lethargy, sleepiness
• Recurring or constant sore throat
• Unexplained gifts or money
• Child appears drugged or intoxicated after spending time with an older adult
• Pain, itching, bruising or bleeding in genital/rectal areas
• Difficulty walking or sitting
• Frequent urinary infections
• Sexually transmitted diseases in young children, pre-teens

Examples of potential behavioral or emotional signs of sexual abuse would be:

• Bed-wetting, incontinence
• Inappropriate sexual knowledge for one's age
• Fear of people, especially authority figures
• Any changes in a child's grades at school
• Self injury, suicide attempts, substance abuse
• Depression, withdrawal, anxiety, sudden mood swings
• Poor hygiene or excessive showering/bathing
• Impaired concentration (daydreaming, "spacing out")
• Eating disturbances (purging, restricting, binge eating, compulsive eating)
• Excuses for not spending time with someone that they used to spend time with

All of the above signs and symptoms of sexual abuse are for reference purposes only. They may or may not suggest that someone you know is a victim of abuse. However, if you have a gut feeling about a situation, it is recommended that you contact appropriate authorities for advice.

If a child of any age reports an incident of abuse to you, it is imperative that it be taken seriously, even if what they're describing to you seems far-fetched or difficult to believe. When a child comes to you with something so personal, they are reaching out in trust and with a fortitude of courage. Please don't let them down.

The best way for you to help that child is to report it to your local police or Children's Aid. Do not be the judge and try to decide for yourself if what they're saying is the truth. The authorities know the right questions to ask, and how to handle the situation from there. All you have to do is make the first call :)

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