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Hi anon, Thanks so much for writing. Dr. J. Patrick Gannon with Texas Woman's University says adults who were abused as children can experience something called survivor's syndrome and includes the following symptoms:

* Symptoms of Trauma--feelings of fear, panic, agitation, anxiety, numbing of bodily areas, nightmares, multiple personalities, feelings of being disconnected from body;

* Physical Ailments--includes psychosomatic illnesses, stomach aches, eating disorders, skin disorders, asthma, headaches and phobias;

* Social Alienation--feeling different from others, not accepted, stigmatized;

* Difficulty in Handling Feelings--trouble in recognizing, managing and appropriately expressing feelings;

* Relationship Problems--fighting, blaming, mistrusting, poor communication skills and difficulty with intimacy;

* Low Self Esteem--self doubt, self blame, shame;

* Self Sabotage--self destructive or self mutilating behavior; and

* Sexual Problems--sexual inhibition or promiscuity, flashbacks to abusive experiences during sexual contact, inability to achieve orgasm, pain or numbing during intimacy.

And while some adults may experience these symptoms, there are a number of methods to overcome or ease the symptoms that include reading, support groups or counseling.

Also, keep in mind that some adults who experienced abuse do not experience any symptoms.

Did you experience abuse as a child? Are you advocating for a friend or family members?