Characteristics of the Child Abuse Survivor

• Changes in behavior at school or at home. (withdrawal, inattentiveness, or other unusual behavior)
• Sleep disturbances (insomnia, bed wetting, nightmares)
• Unexplained and sudden fears
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive anger or reckless behavior
• A new reluctance to spend time with certain people
• A need for more reassurance than usual
• Overwhelming knowledge of sexual behavior
• Isolation from friends, limited participation in social activities
• Depression
• Drug or alcohol use
• Chronic running away
• Increase in physical complaints (miscellaneous illnesses)
• Inappropriate attention-getting behavior
• Suicide attempts
• Self inflicted physical abuse (self-mutilation)
• Poor self-esteem
• Problems in school (missing class, grades)
• Prostitution