Child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome
Okay, kiddo, let's talk about something really important. Sometimes, some grown-ups do bad things to kids. This bad thing is called child sexual abuse. When a kid goes through such a terrible situation, their feelings and behaviors might be affected. This is called Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome or CSAAS for short.
Now, let's understand CSAAS in a simpler way. Imagine you are in a scary movie, and something very scary happens. When you come out of the theater, you might still feel scared, and that feeling could last for a while. A similar thing happens to kids when they go through child sexual abuse. They might behave differently from before and feel many different feelings that can last for some time.
Here are the four common feelings that kids go through:
1. Secrecy: The kid may not tell anyone what happened to them because they feel scared, ashamed, or worried that nobody will believe them.
2. Helplessness: The kid might feel they cannot protect themselves or stop the abuse, even if they try very hard. It makes them feel hopeless, like they are stuck in this situation.
3. Confusion: The kid might have mixed feelings about the abuser. They might have liked them before, but now they know they were hurt by them, which can cause confusion.
4. Self-Blame: The kid might feel like it was all their fault, even though it's never the child's fault.
Remember, if someone does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or hurt, tell a grown-up you trust. They can help you and make sure you are safe.
Now, let's understand CSAAS in a simpler way. Imagine you are in a scary movie, and something very scary happens. When you come out of the theater, you might still feel scared, and that feeling could last for a while. A similar thing happens to kids when they go through child sexual abuse. They might behave differently from before and feel many different feelings that can last for some time.
Here are the four common feelings that kids go through:
1. Secrecy: The kid may not tell anyone what happened to them because they feel scared, ashamed, or worried that nobody will believe them.
2. Helplessness: The kid might feel they cannot protect themselves or stop the abuse, even if they try very hard. It makes them feel hopeless, like they are stuck in this situation.
3. Confusion: The kid might have mixed feelings about the abuser. They might have liked them before, but now they know they were hurt by them, which can cause confusion.
4. Self-Blame: The kid might feel like it was all their fault, even though it's never the child's fault.
Remember, if someone does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or hurt, tell a grown-up you trust. They can help you and make sure you are safe.