Life-long Effects of Child Sexual Trauma - In Drawings

Seldom have the long-term effects of sexual or other trauma been traced throughout the life of a traumatized person. This article presents the drawings of a sexually abused child, with pictures the child drew before the abuse and afterwards. A follow-up at age 45 is included. The drawings show the horror following the abuse and the gradual recovery of childhood. The defenses that developed following the trauma show the desperate, often maladaptive attempts to readjust. The drawings suggest that to a certain extend children can recover and resume an apparently normal life. However, effects linger throughout their lifetime, affecting their personality and everyday behaviors.