Every child has the right to a safe and violence-free childhood. Unfortunately, when a child experiences abuse or neglect, that right is violated and he or she may suffer for a long time to come.
Child abuse affects every child in a different way. Although child abuse and neglect has detrimental and long-lasting effects, children exposed to violence can in fact grow up and go on to be healthy and happy adults.
Children are extremely resilient. The ability to talk about it with them and guide them through their recovery process is critical to their healing. Often, it’s the first step to take.
For most children, once their safety is established they can conquer the traumatic effects through supportive interventions and other professional counseling.
Psychological and developmental effects of child abuse
During the early stages of life, the brain develops very quickly. Clinical studies regarding early childhood development illustrate how the brain responds to certain experiences with family, caregivers, and the community.
The development of the brain directly corresponds to the quality of each of those experiences. Therefore, it’s imperative to meet a child’s needs in terms of emotional security and stability for proper brain development.
When a young brain is consistently exposed to tense situations, it becomes less adaptive and more reactive. Over time, the child may automatically react as if he or she is always in danger no matter what the situation.
Research has determined that children who are exposed to abuse and violence are at great risk for future behavioral and emotional problems if left ignored or unaddressed. Quite often, abused children are not able to convey their feelings properly and thus develop problems handling their emotions.
As a result, once they reach adulthood, expressing their feelings inadequately may lead to chronic anxiety or depression.
Here are some of the potential side effects for a child who’s been abused and neglected:
— depression
— withdrawal and inability to connect with others
— anxiety
— flashbacks
— insomnia
— dissociation
— inability to concentrate
— hypervigilance
— thoughts of suicide
— problems in school
The impact of a child’s abuse is also based upon the individual’s natural reaction to stress and how he or she copes with tense situations.
The physical effects of child abuse
Because a child’s body is still developing, they are naturally more vulnerable to physical injury than an adult. The injuries of abuse are sometimes obvious and can be visibly seen.
However, sometimes the abuser is mindful enough not to leave a mark or visible injury on the child in order to keep the abuse hidden. Therefore, it’s crucial to look beyond any obvious physical harm in order to detect if a child is in a dangerous situation.
Some possible negative effects of childhood trauma include:
— uneasiness with physical contact
— insomnia
— eating disorders
— promiscuity
— drug abuse
How witnessing domestic violence affects a child
Children who witness domestic violence carry a tremendous emotional burden, especially when it takes place in their own family. Whether or not a child is directly involved with the abuse, even witnessing it can have detrimental effects on the child’s emotional well-being.
Understanding the devastating effects of child abuse is key in helping the child to heal.
