Click Here For Adult Survivors of Incest Info Sheet

Adult Survivors of Incest Info Sheet: "Incest is an experience which affects a survivor's life in many ways. The following is only a partial list of possible aftereffects survivors may experience for years into their adult life:

Low self-esteem
Self-blame, guilt
Vulnerability toward revictimization
Depression
Difficulty sustaining relationships and building trust
Alcohol or drug problems
Anxiety, the need for control in relationships
Post-traumatic stress reactions
Eating disorders
Dissociative reactions
Sexual dysfunctions
Flashbacks and bad memories

Also, many victims of incest may not have memories of it ever happening. Some will not have these memories because the abuse occurred while they were very young. Many abuse victims will report that the actual physical sexual abuse was not the worst aspect of the experience; rather, it was carrying such a powerful secret that must be protected. Others may have literally pushed the memories from their conscious mind in order to survive the abuse. In either case, the victim/survivor may feel as if something occurred and may eventually regain the memories of the abuse. Whether they remember the abuse or not, victims/survivors may still experience the above aftereffects."