How does incest affect How can incest survivors the lives of incest survivors? help themselves?

Incest experiences may lead children to form negative Many incest survivors overcome their abuse and opinions about themselves, resulting in serious live rewarding lives, but the healing process may depression, guilt and feelings of powerlessness. Self- be long and difficult. Professional counseling is Incest destructive behaviors, that include involvement in usually necessary. victimizing relationships, may result. Sexual Abuse Incest survivors can learn to make good decisions Incest victims may learn that their role in relationships about relationships. They can learn to feel better Within the Family is to give to others without expecting to be nurtured in about their bodies by developing a sense of ownership return. Their sexuality is used in a way that may make and control over them. They can learn to distinguish them fearful of being touched. between touching which is caring and touching which merely uses their bodies. They can learn to be assertive Many victims have negative feelings about their bodies, and establish personal boundaries in relationships. perform poorly in school because they are unable to concentrate, or get into trouble due to fighting or Resources other antisocial behaviors. During adolescence they may become more and more isolated socially and emotionally. Rape Abuse and Incest National Network Incest victims often take sexuality to one extreme 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or the other – withdrawing from voluntary sexual www.rainn.org activity because it creates anxiety or other painful feelings, or becoming highly sexually active because Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund it is the only way they know to get affection or to 1-800-983-9933 feel in control. Male incest survivors may reject “maleness” if their abuser was male, or go out of their Texas Department of Family way to demonstrate their own “maleness” in order to and Protective Services feel in control of their lives. To report child abuse or neglect, call 1-800-252-5400 Incest victims may feel that they make poor judgments http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/ about other people. They are likely to have little, if any experience with forming good relationships.

Some children may respond sexually to the abuse as a way of getting relief from the tension it creates. This may cause increased feelings of guilt and confusion.

6200 La Calma, Suite 110 Austin, Texas 78752 National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE Free. Confidential. 24/7. www.taasa.org What should a person do who suspects What problems might incest What is Incest? that a minor is being victimized? create for children?

Incest is any sexual contact between individuals Anyone who suspects that a child is being abused When “protector” and “abuser” are the same person, who are closely related or perceived to be related, in any way should report those suspicions to Child the child learns that it is not safe to trust. Inability to including step-parents and live-in partners of Protective Services (CPS) or a local law enforcement trust others is a major problem for incest survivors. parents. The person initiating contact is usually agency. The statewide child abuse hotline telephone a parent or step-parent, most often male. Incest number is 1-800-252-5400. Abused children usually believe that their abuse is perpetrators also include siblings, mothers, uncles, the result of something they did or that they deserve aunts or grandparents. The activity may happen Possible signs that a child to be abused for some reason. They may also believe once or many times over a period of years. Such may have been victimized: that all families are like theirs...that children are activity is illegal. commonly abused by older family members and Young children may exhibit one or more forced to keep the abuse a secret. What are some characteristics of families of the following behaviors: in which incest occurs?  Reverting to bed-wetting, clinging or whining It is often difficult for abused children to get help. Telling the family “secret” opens the family to outside Families in which incest occurs often appear no  Sexual knowledge, behavior or language unusual pressures and increases a child’s feelings of not being different than other families. However, secrecy, for their age safe. Children may not believe that anything will be isolation and psychological stress are major parts of  Withdrawal from other people done once the abuse is revealed or that too much will family life. Children in these families commonly feel be done and they will be blamed for the disruption guilty about the abuse they suffer, not understanding  Frequent genital or bowel movement problems in their family. They may hope that the abuse will that it comes from choices made by the adult abuser.  Unexplained gagging or vomiting simply end.

Abusers come from all races, religious groups,  Loss of appetite How do abused children income levels, professions and age groups. They may  Agitation, hyperactivity, irritability or aggressiveness handle their abuse? enjoy good reputations in their communities and  seem quite normal. In reality abusers are emotionally Seducing/acting out sex acts with other children Incest creates much mental and physical stress for distressed, isolated, and immature. They have false or victimized children. They are forced to develop unusual Signs of abuse in older children may include: distorted ideas about sexuality and often believe that methods of maintaining a small sense of security and there is nothing wrong with their abusive behavior.  Skipping school, change in school performance control during abusive situations, including:  Some abusers, particularly male abusers, tend to think Eating disorders  Separating themselves from the experience by that they have a right to control the family and behave  Depression, anxiety or mood swings blanking out, or by being somewhere else in their in a forceful manner. Other abusers get power by minds during the abuse appearing helpless and needy, pressuring their victims  Poor self-image or self-hatred to take care of their needs and feel sorry for them.  Substance abuse  Making certain parts of their bodies numb or deadened to pain, or creating pain to distract them  A non-abusive mother in the family usually gives Running away or fear of going home from the pain of the abuse (biting their lips or her children the feeling that she is unable to influence  Repeated physical complaints such as infections, holding their breath) what happens in the family. She may be overworked cramping or abdominal pains and ill much of the time, depressed, economically  Using alcohol or drugs to numb themselves to  dependent, or cut off from social contacts outside Dizziness, gagging and severe headaches emotional and physical pain during or after the abuse the family. She may be an unacknowledged victim of  Self-destructive or mutilating behaviors such as sexual assault herself. cutting, burning, and suicide attempts  Pretending to be asleep during the abuse and making their bodies go limp  S eductive or promiscuous behavior and/or prostitution