Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse occurs when someone involves you in sexual actions, words, or situations without your consent or understanding. This can happen in person or online, and it often involves pressure, manipulation, or threats.
- Unwanted touching or sexual acts
- Sexual comments, jokes, or exposure
- Being pressured, threatened, or manipulated into sexual activity
- Online grooming, sexting under pressure, or sharing images without consent
Sexual abuse is never your fault.
Important to know:
Freezing, staying silent, or going along with something does NOT mean consent. Sexual abuse is never your fault, even if the person involved was someone you loved or trusted.
How it can affect you
How it can make you feel:
- Confused, numb, or disconnected
- Ashamed or guilty, even though it was not your fault
- Afraid of certain people, places, or your own body
- Overwhelmed or emotionally shut down
How it can affect your thoughts:
- “I should have stopped it.”
- “Maybe it wasn’t that bad.”
- “I don’t want to cause trouble.”
- “Something is wrong with me.”
How it can affect your behavior:
- Social withdrawal or isolation
- Freezing, pleasing, or avoiding conflict
- Risk-taking behavior (substances, sex, danger-seeking)
- Acting much older or younger than your age
Possible long-term effects
- Difficulty with trust, intimacy, or relationships
- Trauma responses such as dissociation or hypervigilance
- Problems with body image or self-worth
- Persistent anxiety, depression, or emotional numbness
Tips
You are not alone. Talking to someone you trust or a professional can help you regain a sense of safety and control. Healing is possible, at your own pace.