By LaTasha Carter, LCSW, LCASA

Opening up about sexual abuse can be very hard. Victims of sexual abuse often look back at the situation and think “I could/should have done something.” They also struggle to realize what realistic choices they had at the time and who had the power in the situation.  Among the vast array of emotions experienced, most victims report feeling a sense of fear, shame, and guilt. These emotions can go up and down and from one extreme to another.  There are multiple reasons why victims of sexual abuse struggle to come forward and share their story. I will outline a few of them throughout this article. They are not listed in any particular order and it is important to note that not all of the reasons listed may be applicable to every victim of sexual abuse.