How Child Sexual Abuse Impacts My Schizophrenia

My 30 year old son who suffers from schizophrenia just told me about the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of the community janitor/bus driver at the age of 7. He was a very venerable child who had a speech impediment which caused him to be socially isolated in the tight knit community in which we had just moved. He has been tortured by the "demons" ever since. He tells me he can physically feel the pain of the abuse he endured as a child to this day. I want to get him the help he so deserves so he can live a life with less pain and sorrow.

Dear Randall, thank you very much for your very honest discussion. I think that you should try and stop worrying so much about which of your symptoms resulted from the CSA, and which from schizophrenia. They probably nearly all resulted from the CSA and your reactions to it, and the nature of your own PTSD. Remember "schizophrenia" is simply a psychiatric diagnosis based on a collection of symptoms, in which medical-model psychiatrists have long had a huge investment and about which many of us are very sceptical. Only some sexual abuse survivors develop a psychosis, but most people with psychosis have been sexually abused, and the voices they hear are so often those of their abusers or their own voices expressing disgust and blame against themselves. The images some see are very often those of their abuser(s) too. Dr John Read and colleagues have done excellent research on links between CSA trauma and psychosis, as you probably know, and more research is developing all the time. Of course the great psychiatrist Dr Judith Herman was very prominent and outspoken on trauma, menta lhealth and abuse connections in the late 80s and early 90s. Survivors, researchers, radical progressive professionals in the mental health system all need to work together to reinstate and reinforce the fundamental impact of trauma on mental health and make treatmentS and aids to recovery RELEVANT to past trauma. Freud recognised the link in a very humane paper way back in 1896, but disowned his own findings after a welter of professional criticism.. And of course ultimately a key way to reduce mental ill health is to reduce the incidence of child sexual abuse and exploitation through primary prevention.
Can I also say that your linking of paranoia to the deep distrust you developed as a result of the CSA is very helpful and thought provoking. Interestingly enough, paranoid symptoms seem much more common in male survivors than female ones. Not sure the reasons, bit of a puzzle.

Indeed, child sexual abuse presents yet taboo theme in community even numerous anti child sexual abuse laws. This turmoil psycho-physical abuse impact profoundly normal mental development of sexual abused child, causing and provoking different and irreversible mental disorders. Among them schizophrenic psychosis is the most dangerous implication around this nebulous child abuse. In this extreme social prohibited issue the innocent victim remain the abused child, because ignorant attitude of community ruins psycho-social integrity of respective sexual abuse child. So many immoral acts against this fragile persons remain uncovering and unproved by legal institutions. This mischance fact furthermore precipitate the emotional and psychological suffers of sexual abused child. So, it ought to open the Pandore case and freely to discus on this repulsive abuse of children at any time and elsewhere. Without this correct and unshyness approach toward sexual abuse of children the morbid outcomes of this perverse abuse would be more traumatic for sexual abused children. In addition, this statement confirms your heroic withstanding with your sexual abuse in childhood age in spite of serious mental disorder.

Thanks so much. :( was much younger for me. The baggage carried on all my life.

the statement not all heroes wear capes was never more true. I had no idea Randall. That was one strong kid to do what you did at such a young age. And that strong kid grew into an even stronger man. I believe you truly are and can be and inspiration to others.

Wow...just WOW! Wow for your endurance, courage, empathy, and forward movement. Thank you for sharing. And keep talking and sharing. I'm listening

Oh my gosh! I can't begin to explain the myriad of emotions that I experienced reading this. My heart breaks for that child and his lost innocence for understand that feeling of betrayal all too well. Less than a handful of people are aware of what occured to me one summer afternoon in July 1963. A neighbor that I adored as a grandfather figure sexually assaulted me. Convinced me that it was okay and threatened to hurt my parents if said anything. Long story short I was so afraid to tell anyone that it continued throughout the summer. I found the courage however when he asked me to bring my two year old brother to him. The experience forever changed my life. I no longer trusted men. I never had to face him in court as no believed me. I was simply seeking attention. It was my darkest secret.
Now our situations are different but similar, and after reading your blog and listening to you I felt compelled to share this part of my life with you. Your words of never giving up ring loud and clear to me. I know the courage it took to tell this story, the fear you felt for I too felt that tonight. Randall, thank you for not giving up, for continuing to demonstrate your strength and for sharing this emotional event in your life. Remember this....not all heroes wear capes, some are a bit broken and scarred.
I hope you understand that I was not trying to make light of your situation, but rather make a connection.