We are taught to live by the adage “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Our parents and other authority figures teach us to look beyond what we see at first glance and to not make assumptions about someone until we have all the information we need.
This notion is especially important when “judging” someone who is a victim of sexual abuse; especially when the abuse occurred when they were a child. Chances are that they are dealing with their own demons by engaging in destructive behavior such as drug use, excessive alcohol use or deviant sexual behavior.
An abusive victim may think that such vices will help numb the pain they feel. In some instances it may feel that way at first. But as they fall deeper into an abyss of despair, they are more likely to increase the amount of drugs or alcohol in order to escape the pain.
So while a person may appear to be an intractable addict, they may just be an abuse victim in dire need of help. This is where an attorney versed in helping sex abuse victims can be valuable. An attorney with a psychology background will have the experience needed to reassure victims of their self-worth while helping them obtain justice for what happened to them.
If you or a loved one has been abused and are seeking legal representation in Southern California, please feel free to contact us.
The preceding is not legal advice and is provided for informational purposes only.