Secondary Symptoms of Abuse

Childhood and adolescent sexual abuse damages a developing human being. By the time an abuse survivor reaches early adulthood, this damage takes on a life of it's own and is frequently observed in seemingly unrelated behavior and issues. It is these issues that most often send an abuse survivor to a counselor, rather than the actual abuse. These behaviors and issues are called the secondary symptoms of abuse. Listed below are common secondary symptoms. This list is not comprehensive, nor do all abuse survivors manifest all of these behaviors. However, many of these symptoms are present in older teens and adults.

Anger Management Problems	Isolation & Loneliness
Depression	Eating Disorders (anorexia, bulimia, food hoarding, overeating, etc.)
Body Image Problems	Workaholic
Substance Abuse	Sexual Dysfunction or Confusion
Self Mutilation (cutting, burning, etc.)	Sleeping Disorders
Hyper vigilance	Anxiety & Fear
Dysfunctional Relationships	Spiritual Void or Disillusionment
Concentration Difficulties	Performance Based Self Value
Intimacy Problems	Trust Issues
Poor Self Image	Disconnected from Self, Others, and God
Stress Related Physical Problems	Poor or Impaired Parenting Skills