Becoming A Survivor
If you’re wondering whether bringing sexual abuse charges will change things in any way, you may not be fully aware of all the ways the abuse may have changed your life, and the way you think. When you push back against your abuser to declare that what he or she did was wrong, you take yourself out of the role of victim and instead become a survivor. The responsibility for what happened to you rests squarely on the shoulders of the person who perpetuated the abuse, whether it was a teacher, a boy scout leader, a coach, a member of the clergy or someone else. Filing a claim puts the responsibility where it belongs, and helps remove a burden of shame that may have already been present for far too long.
Destructive Patterns May Be A Consequence Of Abuse
People who have been victims of rape, molestation or other sexual abuse often develop similar symptoms and self-destructive tendencies that they later trace back to the abuse. Some of these signs include:
- Difficulty with relationships
- Low self-esteem
- Substance abuse
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Shame
- Difficulty concentrating
- Social withdrawal
- Angry outbursts
The effects of abuse do not end once the abuse has stopped. If you were sexually abused, you may have experienced a negative cascade of effects that continues to this day. At Colton Holm Law Firm, we help survivors of sexual abuse stand up to the past abuse and reclaim their sense of selves, securing the compensation and resources to address the damage that the abuse has visited upon their lives.
Preventing Further Abuse
Oftentimes, when perpetrators of abuse succeed in silencing their victims, they go on to abuse someone else. Even when abusers face consequences for their actions, such as being moved to another church or removed from a professional post, they don’t always learn from their mistakes, and continue to act abusively in their new environment, here in Montana or elsewhere. By filing a sexual abuse claim, you take a step to prevent what happened to you from happening to someone else.
It’s Time To Talk To A Lawyer
You don’t need to live under the cloud of sexual abuse any longer. It wasn’t your fault, and you may be able to collect significant compensation for what you’ve been through. To schedule your free initial consultation with an attorney at our Billings office, call (406) 259-9986 or send us an email to get in touch.
Call Now For A Free Consultation(406) 259-9986