Hi Sally, sexual abuse disturbs emotional, social and mental development. You learn that people can and will hurt you and then you can even think that this is all you deserve. It can lower your self-worth because obviously this person is not treating you with the respect you deserve so you learn that you are not worthy of respect and you feel that you are worthless. This abuse teaches a person that they cannot have personal boundaries, tell others no and protect themselves. This abuse teaches a person to not focus on their own needs but to only meet the needs of others (your needs were sacrified for the needs of the abuser). Finally, this abuse teaches a person that they are weak and powerless and at the mercy of others. These are just a few of the things that I can think of right now. All of these things can be corrected with therapy so that you can have a much better life in the future. Nothing will change, however, unless you take action, have a plan and do the work to get better.