It was inspiring but terrifying to watch us do gymnastics Simone Biles Testified about the abuse she endured over the years. She along with other elite American gymnasts Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichols condemned the United States Olympic Committee and the FBI for mishandling the Larry Nassar case, for “eye-rolling” National group physician. Introducing the events unfolding and demanding accountability, Simone continued to express why she felt the need to speak up. I don’t want a young gymnast, Olympian or any individual to experience the horrors that I and hundreds of others endured before, during and continue to this day,” The burden of experiencing immense suffering and then having the courage to revisit a painful event to empower other young women is not only inspiring, but meaningful, she said Our families become victims of such abuse That said, protecting our girls and building a safe space for them is extremely important despite all forms of abuse , but it often does so at the expense of a woman’s morals. That said, for such a crime as sexual abuse and assault, it is often the victim who must go to justice revisit the horrifying past and live with painful memories and criticism of society, there was a lot of abuse that took place after the tragic case. The fear of being ostracized, of being looked at with pity, is what drives sexual abuse. Victims lie low and hide the unhappy truth. Although justice is what they seek, peace is all they want. Identifying sexual abuse and misconduct when it occurs with an act of abuse, it can leave behind easily identifiable physical symptoms, or it can just be psychological, difficult to grasp. According to Dr Shradha Shejekar, Consultant – Psychiatry, Aster RV Hospital, JP Nagar, Bengaluru, children may not be able to express themselves when they are sexually abused. However, she says there can be some subtle signs. “The child may refuse to eat, play and may avoid someone, may show unusual anger, irritability or fear and may disturb sleep,” she elaborates. Consulting Clinical Psychologist, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore says, “Unlike adults, children often appear there behaviorally, not verbally.” Frequent startle response, becoming too restless or sometimes withdrawn children may also show sudden deterioration, irritability, changes in eating patterns. How to educate young children about sexual abuse? Awareness comes with education and knowledge. And only when the child is aware of what private organs are and what sexual abuse is, then only the child will recognize it when it happens, Dr. Shejekar “. With the help of a doll calf or a cartoon character, children must be taught about ‘no touch zones’ in one’s body. This is especially relevant in young children, who may not understand the depth of the jutsu terms like ‘abuse’, the doctor explained Usually, children should be made aware of ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’ and taught in the simplest way. Communication and building a safe Spacethere is nothing more effective than a productive conversation between parent and child. A friendly conversation is all it takes. Shejekar emphasizes on the need to acknowledge a child’s emotional distress and the importance of listening to them. Don’t judge or punish them. To build a safe space There needs to be a level of trust, comfort, and security. That said, parents should show empathy and kindness towards others. A lot of what you do can affect your child’s psychology. If they witness you being unkind to someone who has experienced abuse in their life, they will also be afraid to share their abuse experiences. a safe space. Don’t blame the children – Avoid interrupting their flow of expressions – don’t rush to talk – don’t ask them to forget it or not talk about it – don’t interview the child Or ask many questions ‘why stars’ – don’t give an opinion – don’t show disgust – be an active listener, listen more and talk less or react – show a non-judgmental approach to showing children to them feel understood and validated- respect the defense by thinking Maintaining physical and Verballyvictim blame boundaries must be stopped, instead of blaming the perpetrator, people hold the victim responsible for the abuse they suffered. This can lead to “fear and shame in the victim which can have serious psychological impacts such as isolation, slut-shaming, depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies,” says Dr. Shejekar. about love and marriage and despise it, causing them to suppress their pain. This encourages more abuse, as they go unreported. Therefore, the real or perceived inability to overcome it requires an engagement with faith and not contempt. You understand the gravity of the situation. Sexual abuse is not just any other problem. It leaves a lasting impact on one’s soul and can take time to heal, which is why one must ensure and respect the victim’s privacy, and work towards constructive a genuine relationship so he/she can trust you. If at all, your child decides to open up about the abuse they experience, listen and make them feel supported. However, be sure, there is no coercion.
