It occurs once every 45 minutes in the U.S. and one in five of all rape victims is under twelve. While it is possible to look too hard for incest, it is much more likely for incest victims to deny it or try to explain it away. Recovery from incest is essential if one hopes to experience the emotional and mental freedom since it affects the very essence of who you are and interferes with sanity, joy, relationships, self-esteem and spirituality. THe need to learn to trust yourself and to express your anger. Healing from the shame and knowing it was not your fault, reaching forgiveness at your pace, are all part of the process.
Incest is a major trauma.
Personality disorders, dissociation and other dramatic survival mechanisms may result. Recent research is finding that victims often develop multiple personalities as a coping mechanism. Survivors generally need competent professional treatment. One out of every three female children and one out of every seven male children in the U.S. have been or will be sexually abused or molested before the age of 18. It is commonly initiated when the victim is between four and 12 with four to nine a particularly high risk, although victims as young as two months have been identified.