MYTHS
&
FACTS
MYTH: Child abuse is really a form of affection.
FACT: Abuse is an act of power and control. There is no affection at
all.
MYTH: Sometimes a child wants to be abused.
FACT: Though at times I may seem that the touching feels good to a child
NO ONE wants to give up the control on life that abuse brings.
MYTH: the child seduced me
FACT: no child can understand and totally grasp an adult act of sexual intercourse. A child may mimic actions not understanding that there are different levels of love and affection
MYTH: It is not traumatic to be abused.
FACT: in ALL cases of abuse there has been some problem no matter how underling it might be. Such problems can be emotional, physical, sexual or mental or a combination of any or all of them.
MYTH: only girls get abused.
FACT: one in every 4 boys are abused. Sadly society has put limits on male emotions therefore compounding the feelings of shame that a male abuse survivor feels. Many male abuse survivors end up in jail or prison for committing crimes to act out their hurt ad anger at the abuse they suffered.
MYTH: Abuse can never happen to my family.
FACT: with the growing number of reported cases in the United States it is most likely that abuse has already happened within your family or you are closely related to someone who has seen or suffered abuse in their lives. NO ONE is immune.
MYTH: You can always tell an abuser.
FACT: most abusers are normal working everyday people in the community. Clergy, teachers, law enforcement, people you trust and see everyday. No one has a brand on his or her forehead or a deformation that states that they are an abuser.
MYTH: People say that they were abused to get attention.
FACT: Though in some cases this has proven to be true we cannot take the risk of not believing someone. ALWAYS believe a person if they tell you they were abused.
JOIN IN THE HOWL TO STOP ABUSE
Write me at ccatherine10