Sexual Assault and Post-traumatic Illness in Children

The sexual abuse or sexual assault of children is becoming more common these days. Out of every ten children, a minimum of four have been sexually assaulted physically or mentally. The sad thing here is that in more than 40% of child sexual abuse cases, the perpetrators are known by the victims. Due to these assaults children are affected with mental traumas and many stress-related behaviors, which include self-harm. This chapter mainly focuses on the sexual abuse of children and the healing phenomena that may lead the survivors to a prosperous and contented adulthood. There are many organizations to help these people to lead healthy lives. Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is a severe condition that mainly occurs as a result of sexual assault or human trafficking. The chapter also discusses ACE’s (adverse childhood experiences) and provides further details. Also, it explores the issue of how people who have faced these experiences tend to be codependent, ways to support survivors in overcoming codependency.